Pilot Study of Robot-Assisted Teleultrasound Based on 5G Network : A New Feasible Strategy for Early Imaging Assessment During COVID-19 Pandemic

Early diagnosis is critical for the prevention and control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We attempted to apply a protocol using teleultrasound, which is supported by the 5G network, to explore the feasibility of solving the problem of early imaging assessment of COVID-19. Four male patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were hospitalized in isolation wards in two different cities. Ultrasound specialists, located in two other different cities, carried out the robot-assisted teleultrasound and remote consultation in order to settle the problem of early cardiopulmonary evaluation. Lung ultrasound, brief echocardiography, and blood volume assessment were performed. Whenever difficulties of remote manipulation and diagnosis occurred, the alternative examination was repeated by a specialist from another city, and in sequence, remote consultation was conducted immediately to meet the consensus. The ultrasound specialists successfully completed the telerobotic ultrasound. Lung ultrasound indicated signs of pneumonia with varying degrees in all cases and mild pleural effusion in one case. No abnormalities of cardiac structure and function and blood volume were detected. Remote consultation on the issue of manipulation practice, and the diagnosis in one case was conducted. The cardiopulmonary information was delivered to the frontline clinicians immediately for further treatment. The practice of teleultrasound protocol makes early diagnosis and repeated assessment available in the isolation ward. Ultrasound specialists can be protected from infection, and personal protective equipment can be spared. Quality control can be ensured by remote consultations among doctors. This protocol is worth consideration as a feasible strategy for early imaging assessment in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:67

Enthalten in:

IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control - 67(2020), 11 vom: 03. Nov., Seite 2241-2248

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Wu, Shengzheng [VerfasserIn]
Wu, Dudu [VerfasserIn]
Ye, Ruizhong [VerfasserIn]
Li, Keyan [VerfasserIn]
Lu, Yuehua [VerfasserIn]
Xu, Jufen [VerfasserIn]
Xiong, Linfei [VerfasserIn]
Zhao, Yuanyuan [VerfasserIn]
Cui, Ailin [VerfasserIn]
Li, Yaqing [VerfasserIn]
Peng, Chengzhong [VerfasserIn]
Lv, Faqin [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 04.11.2020

Date Revised 14.11.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1109/TUFFC.2020.3020721

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM314545719