European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:  This study was conducted to compare the lung ultrasound with the chest x-ray in the diagnosis of patients admitted to the critical care department with acute respiratory failure. Method: This was a hospital-based prospective observational study conducted among patients aged 18 years and older who presented with acute respiratory failure to the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Baby Memorial Hospital, Calicut, Kerala, over a period of 18 months, from April 2020 to September 2021 after obtaining clearance from the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent from the study participants. Results: In USG diagnosing efficiency among CXR-diagnosed cases, 95.5% of CXR pathology found cases were identified by USG. But 72.7% of CXR pathology not found cases were also identified as pathology present. This association was statistically significant. (P<0.05). In CXR diagnosing efficiency among USG-diagnosed cases, 91.4% of USG pathology found cases were identified by CXR. But 72.7% of USG pathology not found cases were also identified as pathology present on CXR. This association was statistically significant. (P<0.05). Conclusion: Patients on mechanical ventilation have to get a chest ultrasound and x-ray as soon as possible. After that, chest ultrasonography can be performed to follow-up on imaging for patients who are clinically stable. Routine, regular chest x-rays can be replaced with USG follow-up to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure to the patient and ICU staff. When a patient's clinical state worsens, chest x-rays can be taken again and compared to fresh ultrasonographic results.