Hospital introduces bedside lung ultrasounds

Physiotherapists Emily Cockshutt and Aaron Hales have been trained in the new technique

Patients with major injuries and illnesses could now be given lung ultrasounds without leaving their hospital beds, Hull University Teaching Hospitals said.

The NHS trust said performing lung ultrasounds by the patient’s bedside would enable them to treat patients more swiftly and improve recovery times.

The diagnostic tool would be used in intensive care, neurosurgery and major trauma units at Hull Royal Infirmary.

Patients would also be assessed with the technique if they had undergone cardiothoracic surgery at Castle Hill hospital.

Hull Royal Infirmary would use the imagery tool to assess lung conditions more accurately

Physiotherapists Emily Cockshutt and Aaron Hales have become the first at Hull University Teaching Hospitals to qualify in the new technique.

Ms Cockshutt said: “Lung ultrasound is a form of imaging and it’s a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can be used right at patients’ bedsides."

The lung ultrasound is more portable than the chest x-ray and does not use radiation.

Mr Hales explained: “The patients will benefit as they should access specific treatment plans based on the ultrasound findings, allowing quicker treatment of their problems and therefore quicker recovery – so, hopefully, they will spend less time in hospital.”

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