Lung ultrasound in cardiac rehabilitation: expert consensus on protocols, clinical use, and integration into patient management from the working group on cardiac rehabilitation and cardiovascular prevention of the Italian society of cardiology

Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is a reliable and reproducible tool across various clinical settings. Its high diagnostic accuracy, portability, and real-time imaging capabilities make it especially suitable for use in Emergency Departments, Intensive Care Units, and outpatient clinics. LUS has proven particularly effective in evaluating lung congestion. LUS also provides superior diagnostic accuracy for detecting pleural effusion and lung consolidations, offering real-time imaging with high spatial resolution and enabling precise monitoring throughout hospitalization. In the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, the routine use of LUS represents a reliable imaging modality for assessing patients with complex clinical conditions. In fact, early identification of lung congestion, pleural effusion, or lung consolidation in patients recovering from acute coronary syndrome, acute heart failure, or cardiac surgery is crucial for optimizing clinical management. Moreover, continuous monitoring of lung congestion can aid in the appropriate adjustment of diuretic therapy and exercise intensity. This review aims to present the latest evidence and recommendations for the use of LUS in the cardiac rehabilitation setting.