REVIEW article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Pulmonology
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1631563
This article is part of the Research TopicUse of lung ultrasound in critical ill children with acute lung diseaseView all 4 articles
Breathe easy, baby, breathe. Lung ultrasound in neonatal critical care
Provisionally accepted
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Lesser Poland, Poland
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Lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as an essential tool in neonatology over the past two decades, offering unique advantages for this patient population. The small size, high water content, and delayed rib calcification of neonates make them particularly suited for ultrasonographic imaging. By replacing traditional chest radiographs, it significantly reduces exposure to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, it is widely accessible, easy to use, and provides repeatable, real-time imaging without requiring patient transport. These features make it invaluable in managing acute respiratory conditions, where timely intervention is critical. This review emphasizes the role of LUS in neonates with acute respiratory distress as a fundamental component of the point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) protocol. The technique is crucial for conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), supporting decisions on surfactant therapy. It also aids in diagnosing and managing air-leak syndromes like pneumothorax (PTX) and detecting congenital respiratory malformations. Additionally, LUS ensures safer transport of critically ill neonates and optimizes mechanical ventilation. By delivering accurate, real-time imaging, LUS has become an essential diagnostic tool in infant care. Its integration into clinical practice enhances the management of life-threatening conditions, making it an essential skill for clinicians in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and during neonatal transport.
Keywords: point-of care ultrasound, Lung ultrasound, Acute Respiratory Failure, neonate, Neonatal transport
Received: 19 May 2025; Accepted: 04 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Jagła, Grudzień, Tomasik, Wroński and Kwinta. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Przemko Kwinta, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, 31-008, Lesser Poland, Poland
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