Diagnostic performance of Bedside Lung Ultrasonography in Emergency (BLUE) for evaluating Interstitial Syndrome in Intensive Care Unit patients

Background: Interstitial syndrome is a common and significant finding in critically ill patients with respiratory distress. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial to guide management. While computed tomography (CT) is the reference standard, it has notable limitations in ICU settings, including radiation exposure and patient transport risks. Aim/Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of bedside lung ultrasonography (LUS) in detecting interstitial syndrome compared to CT in ICU patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 70 mechanically ventilated ICU patients in Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital who underwent both LUS and thoracic CT. LUS findings were compared with CT, considered the reference standard. Results: LUS detected interstitial syndrome with a sensitivity of 71.4%, specificity of 91.8%, positive predictive value of 79%, negative predictive value of 88.2%, and diagnostic accuracy of 85.7%. Conclusion: LUS is a feasible, rapid, and reasonably accurate bedside tool for detecting interstitial syndrome in ICU patients, offering a practical alternative to CT.