Prognostic Value of Lung Ultrasound in Predicting Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay in Adult Cardiac Surgery

"12 hours postoperatively using a convex ultrasound probe LUS will be performed by an experienced radiologist according to standardized protocols. For each hemi-thorax 3 main areas (anterior (Ant), lateral (Lt) and posterior (Post)) marked by the para-sternal, anterior axillary and posterior axillary lines will be identified. Each one will be divided into upper and lower halves, making a sum of 6 different quadrants for each side: anterior superior, anterior inferior, lateral superior, lateral inferior, posterior superior, posterior inferior.~For each quadrant a score will be assigned based on B lines which are defined as comet like artifacts indicating subpleural interstitial edema as follows:~(0) normal aeration: A lines with lung sliding or fewer than two isolated B lines; (1) moderate loss of lung aeration: well-defined, multiple B lines ; (2) severe loss of lung aeration: multiple coalescent B lines; and (3) complete loss of lung aeration or lung consolidation."