BLUE protocol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The BLUE (Bedside Lung Ultrasound in Emergency) protocol is a standardized method for using lung ultrasound in emergency and critical care settings.[1] In 2008, it was introduced by Daniel Lichtenstein and Gilbert Mezière and has been used to diagnose acute respiratory failure in critically ill patients.[1] It was first proposed in 1996 and rejected repeatedly until being accepted twelve years later.[2] Lung ultrasound has been shown to provide timely diagnosis of acute respiratory failure in about 90% of cases.[1] It can be performed under 3 minutes.[3]
The BLUE protocol is a systematic approach to evaluating lung pathology through ultrasound, allowing for rapid differentiation of conditions such as COPD or asthma, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and pulmonary embolism.[1] By assessing specific lung zones and identifying characteristic ultrasound patterns, clinicians can quickly determine the cause of respiratory failure at the bedside.[1] In the emergency department setting, the BLUE protocol can be modified for assessment of pericardial and pleural effusions.[4]