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The role of chest X-ray in the diagnosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review concerning low-resource birth scenarios

Authors :
Gabriela Silveira Neves
Zilma Silveira Nogueira Reis
Roberta Maia de Castro Romanelli
Jannine dos Santos Nascimento
André Dias Sanglard
James Batchelor
Source :
Global Health Action, Vol 17, Iss 1 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.

Abstract

Background Access to diagnostic tools like chest radiography (CXR) is challenging in resource-limited areas. Despite reduced reliance on CXR due to the need for quick clinical decisions, its usage remains prevalent in the approach to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). Objectives To assess CXR’s role in diagnosing and grading NRDS severity compared to current clinical features and laboratory standards. Methods A review of studies with NRDS diagnostic criteria was conducted across six databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, BVS, Scopus-Elsevier, Web of Science, Cochrane) up to 3 March 2023. Independent reviewers selected studies, with discrepancies resolved by a senior reviewer. Data were organised into descriptive tables to highlight the use of CXR and clinical indicators of NRDS. Results Out of 1,686 studies screened, 23 were selected, involving a total of 2,245 newborns. All selected studies used CXR to diagnose NRDS, and 21 (91%) applied it to assess disease severity. While seven reports (30%) indicated that CXR is irreplaceable by other diagnostic tools for NRDS diagnosis, 10 studies (43%) found that alternative methods surpassed CXR in several respects, such as severity assessment, monitoring progress, predicting the need for surfactant therapy, foreseeing Continuous Positive Airway Pressure failure, anticipating intubation requirements, and aiding in differential diagnosis. Conclusion CXR remains an important diagnostic tool for NRDS. Despite its continued use in scientific reports, the findings suggest that the study’s outcomes may not fully reflect the current global clinical practices, especially in low-resource settings where the early NRDS approach remains a challenge for neonatal survival. Trial registration: PROSPERO number CRD42022336480.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16549880 and 16549716
Volume :
17
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Global Health Action
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.094c45078e61412a810419681d28f244
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2024.2338633