Rationale: Lung ultrasound scores (LUS) might be useful in monitoring neonates with chronic pulmonary insufficiency of prematurity and in predicting bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Given their ease of use, accuracy, and lack of invasiveness, LUS have been the subject of several recent studies. Objectives: We sought to clarify whether LUS provide an accurate and early (within the first 2 wk of life) prediction of BPD in preterm infants of gestational age ⩽32 weeks. Methods: This was a systematic review and diagnostic accuracy meta-analysis following PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols), PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis), and QUADAS (QUAlity of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) guidelines. Studies designed to predict BPD in the first 2 weeks of life using LUS were selected. A classical LUS (calculated for 6 chest areas) and its extended version (eLUS, 10 chest areas) were tested. Results: Seven studies (1,027 neonates) were meta-analyzed. LUS and eLUS showed good diagnostic accuracy in predicting BPD at 7 and 14 days of life (area under the curve, 0.85–0.87; pooled sensitivity, 70–80%; pooled specificity, 80–87%). The diagnostic accuracy of LUS and eLUS did not differ at any time point (area under the curve difference always P > 0.05). Repeating the analyses without outliers or with moderate to severe BPD as the outcome yielded similar results. Meta-regressions showed that prenatal steroid prophylaxis and sex were not significant effect confounders. Conclusions: LUS are accurate for early prediction of BPD and moderate to severe BPD, in an average population of preterm infants ⩽32 weeks’ gestation. The diagnostic accuracy is similar for LUS and eLUS, so the use of the simpler score should be advocated. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021233010

In many cases, assisted respiratory support is needed to ensure the survival of premature infants. The present study is focused on evaluating the noise exposure experienced by premature newborns under CPAP ^a respiratory support by means of a neonatal helmet to compare the discomfort measured in one-third octave bands, in terms of the curve of 40 phons, and analyzing the influence that HME ^b filter placed on the helmets have during the delivery of oxygen-air, on the levels of sound pressure. Likewise, the influence of the levels of sound pressure is quantified at the ear level, in linear and thirds of octaves, depending on the air-oxygen flow of the neonatal helmet and of the filters placed in the helmets. The methodology used to reach conclusions in this study includes the application of the variance analysis statistical technique on a total of 4968 samples. This article highlights how the HME filters do not decrease levels of sound but, in certain situations, increase them. On the other hand, the levels of sound produced by the CPAP systems with neonatal helmets are tested to produce sound levels above those recommended by different organizations for NICUs c.