METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE SEVERITY OF PNEUMONIA WITH COVID-19 USING AN ULTRASONIC EXAMINATION METHOD Russian patent published in 2020 - IPC A61B8/08 

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to medicine, namely to radiation diagnostics, and can be used for assessment of pneumonia severity in COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus by means of ultrasonic examination method. That is followed by ultrasonic scanning of the lungs in accordance with 20- or 16-zone protocol, which are presented in Figures 1 and 2, respectively, with location of the sensor along the intercostal space. Differentiating moderate or obvious interstitial changes. Moderate interstitial changes are determined by detecting a thickened uneven pleural line and more than two non-merging B lines, echogenicity of which is lower than echogenicity of pleural line, with maximum thickness of B-lines up to 3 mm at point of deviation from pleural line. Obvious interstitial changes are determined if two or more merging B lines are detected; non-merging B-lines, including single ones, echogenicity of which corresponds to pleural line echogenicity, having thickness of 3 mm and more at point of deviation from pleural line; micro-consolidations; cortical consolidations; extensive consolidations. Obvious interstitial changes are diagnosed both in the presence of one of the changes specified above, and at their various combinations. If observing the obvious interstitial changes in the study areas, the severity of pneumonia in COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is determined by formula: S=4n/N, where S is degree of severity, characterized by an area of pulmonary tissue involvement, n is number of zones with detected changes, N is total number of zones, on which there has been conducted an US examination. If the degree of severity is 0≤S<1, the lung involvement parenchyma area is stated to be 25 %. If value 1≤S<2 is obtained, the lung involvement parenchyma area is 25 to 50 %. If value 2≤S<3 is obtained, the area of the lung involvement parenchyma is 50–75 %. If the value S≥3 is obtained, the lung involvement parenchyma area is 75 % or more.

EFFECT: method provides a simple and affordable assessment of the severity of pulmonary involvement in patients with pneumonia COVID-19 in pandemics by using an ultrasonic diagnostic technique.

1 cl, 11 dwg, 5 tbl, 5 ex