Lung Ultrasound to Diagnose Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN) Versus Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in Neonates

The Use of Lung Ultrasound to Diagnose RDS vs. TTN in Neonates Greater Than or Equal to 28 Weeks Gestation

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01517958

Enrollment

Registered

2012-01-25

Start date

2011-10-31

Completion date

2013-06-30

Last updated

2016-03-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

RDS, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn, TTN

Keywords

Transient tachypnea of the newborn, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Lung Ultrasound, Neonates

Brief summary

The investigators hypothesize that ultrasonography of the newborn lung can be used as an effective diagnostic tool in neonates ≥ 28 weeks gestation with early symptoms of respiratory distress.

Detailed description

Respiratory distress is a common reason for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for both preterm and full term newborns. TTN and RDS are the two most common diagnoses associated with respiratory distress. Due to their similar clinical presentations, it is often difficult to differentiate the two diseases clinically. Currently chest radiography is used to differentiate between TTN and RDS, however, radiographic findings are not always definitively diagnostic. In preliminary studies, lung ultrasonography has been shown to be a useful tool in diagnosing both TTN and RDS. However, no one has looked at the use of lung ultrasonography in differentiating TTN from RDS in the neonatal population. We propose to do so in this study. Patients will be enrolled from neonatal admissions to the NICU with respiratory distress. Lung ultrasound will be performed on all enrolled subjects, looking for specific findings suggestive of either TTN or RDS. Data will be collected on gestational age, physical exam findings and level of respiratory support. Diagnoses will be recorded based on ultrasound findings. Accuracy of lung ultrasound diagnosis will be compared to that using radiographic chest radiography findings to evaluate if lung ultrasound is equivalent, or better than chest radiography in order to diagnose TTN versus RDS in this patient population.

Interventions

OTHERRespiratory Distress Group

Diagnostic lung ultrasound.

OTHERControl Group

Lung ultrasound

Study design

Observational model

CASE_CONTROL

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

28 Weeks to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* gestational age ≥ 28 weeks * symptoms of respiratory distress defined as: * tachypnea (respiratory rate \> 60 breaths per minute) * FiO2 requirement \>21% * intercostal/subcostal retractions * grunting and/or nasal flaring * If clinically warranted, a chest x-ray will be done as part of the workup for respiratory distress; these patients with CXR will be included in the study. * Inclusion criteria for the control group will be gestational age ≥ 28 weeks with no symptoms of respiratory distress (defined above).

Exclusion criteria

* neonates with prenatally diagnosed structural cardiac disease * major multiple congenital anomalies * other causes of respiratory distress that are not RDS or TTN (e.g. pneumothorax, CCAM or pneumonia).

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
lung ultrasound	within first 24 hours of life.	The primary endpoint is to determine whether lung ultrasound is comparable or superior to chest radiography: (1) in making the diagnosis of RDS and TTN and (2) in differentiating between RDS and TTN. Disease-specific lung ultrasound findings: (1) Double lung point in TTN and (2) lung white-out in RDS.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026