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To B or not to B. The rationale for quantifying B-lines in paediatric lung diseases.
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  • Niccolò Parri,
  • Marco Allinovi,
  • Martina Giacalone,
  • Iuri Corsini
Niccolò Parri
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedale Pediatrico Meyer

Corresponding Author:niccolo.parri@meyer.it

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Marco Allinovi
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi
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Martina Giacalone
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Meyer
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Iuri Corsini
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi
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Abstract

The evaluation of the lung by ultrasound is an adjunct tool to the clinical assessment. Among different hallmarks at lung ultrasound, B-lines are well known artifacts which are not correlated to identifiable structures but can be used as an instrument for pathological classification. Multiple B-lines are the sonographic sign of lung interstitial syndrome with a direct correlation between the number of B-lines and the severity of the interstitial involvement of lung disease. In neonatology and paediatrics, the quantitative assessment of B-lines is questionable as opposed to in adult medical care. Counting B-lines is an attempt to enrich the clinical assessment and clinical information, and not simply arrive at a dichotomous answer. A semiquantitative or quantitative B-lines assessment was shown to correlate with fluid overload and demonstrated prognostic implications in specific neonatal and paediatric conditions. In neonatology, the count of B-lines is used to predict the need for admission in neonatal intensive care unit and the need for exogenous surfactant treatment. In paediatrics, the B-lines count has the role of quantifying hypervolemia in infants and children receiving dialysis. B-lines as predictors of length of stay in the paediatric intensive care unit after cardiac surgery, as a marker of disease severity in bronchiolitis, or as an indicator of lung involvement from SARS-CoV-2 infection are speculative and not yet supported by solid evidence. Lung ultrasound with the quantitative B-lines assessment is promising. The current evidence allows to use the quantification of B-lines in a limited number of neonatal and paediatric diseases.
11 Nov 2021Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology
12 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
14 Nov 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Dec 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
05 Jan 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
22 Feb 20221st Revision Received
23 Feb 2022Submission Checks Completed
23 Feb 2022Assigned to Editor
23 Feb 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Mar 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
08 Apr 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
04 May 20222nd Revision Received
04 May 2022Submission Checks Completed
04 May 2022Assigned to Editor
04 May 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
05 May 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 May 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
09 Jun 20223rd Revision Received
21 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
21 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
21 Jun 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Jul 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
16 Sep 20224th Revision Received
20 Sep 2022Submission Checks Completed
20 Sep 2022Assigned to Editor
20 Sep 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Sep 2022Editorial Decision: Accept