Ultrasound may spot preterm babies needing lung treatment earlier

This study looked at whether chest ultrasound can predict which premature babies (born before 34 weeks) will need surfactant—a substance that helps their immature lungs work better. Doctors currently decide based on oxygen levels, which can delay treatment. Researchers performed lung ultrasounds on 86 babies in the first few days of life, but did not use the images for treatment decisions. The goal was to see if ultrasound scores could reliably predict the need for surfactant, potentially allowing earlier and more effective treatment.