A two-month infant was admitted due to suspected infection. Four hours after packed platelets transfusion, and with no prior ventilatory support, the patient suffered progressive worsening with tachypnea and labored breathing that required noninvasive ventilatory support (maximum PIP 15/PEEP 7 and FiO2 70%). At that time, pulmonary ultrasound revealed characteristics consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome, presenting bilateral coalescent B lines (asterisk) without aeration zones and a thickened pleura (>0.5mm), associated to subpleural condensations (Fig. 1). No lung pattern changes were evidenced with diuretics, and intubation was decided (volume control mode presenting tidal volume 6ml/kg with PIP 35 cmH2O, PEEP 14 cmH2O, respiratory frequency 35rpm, and FiO2 100%) – the condition being interpreted as representing transfusion-related acute lung injury (Fig. 2).
Funding
The authors declare that they have received no funding in relation to the present study.
Please cite this article as: Rosich del Cacho B, Sorribes Ortiz Ca, Rodríguez-Fanjul J. Ecografía torácica en el diagnóstico de la lesión pulmonar aguda producida por transfusión. Med Intensiva. 2020;44:262–263.
