Table 1.

Ultrasound findings approved by the consensus conference.

Experts’ Consensus Statements	Agree (%)	Disagree (%)	Neutral (%)
Systematic examination of lung zones
It is preferable to use the 6-zone scanning protocol per each side to localize LUS findings to be reported in free text reports (FTRs) as well as standardized reports (SRs).	100	0	0
2.In case of specific findings, such as lung point or minimal subpleural consolidations, it could be useful to report a more precise localization in addition to the zone by indicating anatomical landmarks.	86.4	13.6	0
3.It is helpful to report which zones have not been examined.	92.9	7.1	0
4.If the report clearly states that all the zones have been examined, those not described should be considered normal without further explanation.	81.0	19	0
5.In a report, it should be clearly stated if any zone is normal, pathological, or not examined.	92.9	7.1	0
Examination of the pleura
6.In a report, it should be stated if the pleura has been examined or not.	81.0	19	0
7.If the report clearly states that the pleura has been bilaterally examined and not described as pathological, it should be considered normal without further explanation.	100	0	0
8.In a report, it should be clearly stated if the pleura is normal, pathological, or not examined.	100	0	0
LUS signs
9.B-lines, consolidations, effusions, lung point, lung sliding, static and dynamic bronchogram are keystone signs to be detected and reported in daily clinical practice.	100	0	0
10.A-lines, bat sign, curtain sign, lung pulse, quad sing, shred sign, sinusoid sign are signs that do not need to be reported in daily clinical practice.	100	0	0
11.Seashore and stratosphere signs are NOT fundamental signs to be detected and reported in daily clinical practice.	85.7	7.1	7.1
12.It is advisable to use US signs rather than US profiles.	92.9	7.1	0
13.Detected findings should be described upon their quantification or severity.	86.4	13.6	0
14.It is preferable to report a semi-quantitative and qualitative description of B-lines rather than their count.	92.9	7.1	0
Pleural effusion
15.Pleural effusion should be described as mild, moderate, severe but it should be quantified by measuring its maximum thickness and reporting its extent.	100	0	0
16.The patient’s position during the quantification of pleural effusions should be reported.	100	0	0
17.The estimation of the volume, according to several formulas, could be a mainstay in the decision of draining a pleural effusion.	100	0	0
18.A qualitative description of a pleural effusion (hypoechoic, corpuscular, sepimented) must be solely in case the effusion is not free and anechoic.	100	0	0
Consolidations
19.Consolidations must be described semi-quantitatively as small, moderate, extended. It is not necessary to measure their extent.	100	0	0
LUS score
20.The report should provide a text box to calculate the LUS score, which is reserved for selected clinical cases (e.g., ARDS evolution monitoring).	92.9	7.1	0
Conclusions
21.Each pulmonary zone should be described according to the findings detected, while interpretation and diagnosis should be reported in the conclusions section.	81.8	18.2	0
22.Clinical hypothesis should be reported in the conclusions section whenever the clinical case is clear or suggestive for a specific diagnosis.	100	0	0
23.The conclusions section should consist of a free text box to describe further elements not included in the SR.	100	0	0
Context of performing a LUS
24.It is not mandatory to report the diagnosis or cause of the patient’s admission.	92.9	7.1	0
25.It is helpful to report if a LUS is performed as a screening examination or for monitoring a condition (follow-up)	92.9	7.1	0
26. It is useful to state if the exam is performed in emergency situation (REJECTED)	63.2	15.8	21.1
27.The position of the patient during the examination should be reported.	95.5	4.5	0
28.It is helpful to report technical difficulties and problems of execution of a LUS.	90.9	8.1	0
29. It is useful to report the type of probe (REJECTED)	70	30	0
Ventilatory settings
30.It is helpful to report the type of ventilation of the patient.	91.0	9	0
31.Modification of findings according to variations in ventilation (e.g., recruitment maneuvers) should be reported.	95.5	4.5	0
Therapeutic considerations
32.It is not necessary to report the diagnostic path.	100	0	0
33.It is not necessary to report the therapeutic path.	100	0	0

Rejected questions that did not reach consensus are displayed in red.