PULMONARY ULTRASONOGRAPHY AT COVID-19

A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ITS APPLICATION AND DISSEMINATION

Abstract

COVID-19 manifests itself predominantly as a pulmonary infection that can be diagnosed and controlled through ultrasound. This procedure, in a hospital environment, can be performed at the bedside, including in intensive care units, decreasing the locomotion of patients and the exposure of other patients and health professionals. This study aims to review the technique and pulmonary ultrasound findings related to COVID-19. To this end, it performed a narrative review of articles that address pulmonary ultrasound, as well as literature on COVID-19, in national and international databases. Articles were selected that highlighted the quality of the images and didactically prepared text, so that the examination technique and the most frequent findings related to pulmonary infection of this etiology were addressed. According to the literature, ultrasonography allows for the screening of clinically stable symptomatic patients, especially in view of possible limitations to hospital access and computed tomography, standing out as a complementary diagnostic method when coping with the pandemic of COVID-19.