Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB) Improves Pain Control in Patients With Rib Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: The serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) is an ultrasound-guided compartment block; limited data suggest that it can decrease pain in patients with rib fractures or chest wall pain. We sought to determine the effect of SAPB on pain and incentive spirometry (IS) maximal vital capacity in adult patients with rib fractures. METHODS: We enrolled a prospective sample of adult patients with at least two unilateral rib fractures who were being admitted for pain control. SAPB was performed by trained emergency physicians. Patients reported pain on an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale at rest and during IS, before, 15, and 60 minutes after SAPB. RESULTS: Mean pain scores decreased by 1.8 (SD 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-2.81) at 15 minutes and 2.5 (SD 2.69, 95% CI: 1.24-3.76) at 60 minutes. Compared to pre-block pain scores during IS, mean pain scores decreased by 1.95 (SD 1.99, 95% CI: 1.02-2.88) at 15 minutes and 2.4 (SD 2.42, 95% CI: 1.27-3.53) at 60 minutes. Mean maximum vital capacity increased by 232 mL (SD 406, 95% CI: 36-427) at 60 minutes. Zero SAPB-attributable complications were identified in the 24 hours post-enrollment. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with multiple rib fractures, SAPB reduced pain scores at rest and during IS, and increased maximal vital capacity. The SABP may be a safe and effective modality for pain control in trauma patients with multiple rib fractures.

Growth and globalization of point-of-care ultrasound publications in emergency medicine.

OBJECTIVES: Since the introduction of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in emergency medicine (EM), the applications, indications, and training for POCUS have grown. POCUS training in EM residency is standard and POCUS fellowships are common. We sought to quantify and characterize changes in POCUS publications over time with a scoping review of the literature METHODS: We conducted a structured keyword search of high impact EM journals according to 2019 journal citation reports and other journals publishing POCUS studies between 2000-2019. Two abstractors recorded whether the publication was POCUS related, the type of publication, and author affiliation by department and country. We included studies with at least one author affiliated with a department of EM. Agreement between abstractors was tested. RESULTS: The number of POCUS-related publications grew from a mean of 8.8 publications/year 2000-2004 to 134.8 publications/year from 2015-2019. The most common publication type was case reports or series (44%). The proportion of publications from outside the United States (US) decreased over time. Between 2000 and 2004 89% of publications came from authors affiliated with US institutions; from 2015-2019 this had decreased to 64%. Agreement between abstractors was excellent (Cohen's k = 0.89) CONCLUSIONS: POCUS publications increased substantially between 2000-2019. The most common type of publication was a case report, which was consistent throughout the study period. Authorship from outside the US increased. Publications yielding high-quality evidence from observational or controlled studies represented a low proportion of the total number of studies.

Test performance of point-of-care ultrasound for gastric content.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine test performance characteristics of emergency physician ultrasound for the identification of gastric contents. METHODS: Subjects were randomized to fast for at least 10 h or to consume food and water. A sonologist blinded to the patient's status performed an ultrasound of the stomach 10 min after randomization and oral intake, if applicable. The sonologist recorded their interpretation of the study using three sonographic windows. Subsequently 2 emergency physicians reviewed images of each study and provided an interpretation of the examination. Test performance characteristics and inter-rater agreement were calculated. RESULTS: 45 gastric ultrasounds were performed. The sonologist had excellent sensitivity (92%; 95% CI 73%-99%) and specificity (85%; 95% CI 62%-92%). Expert review demonstrated excellent sensitivity but lower specificity. Inter-rater agreement was very good (κ = 0.64, 95%CI 0.5-0.78). CONCLUSION: Emergency physician sonologists were sensitive but less specific at detecting stomach contents using gastric ultrasound.

WAMAMI: emergency physicians can accurately identify wall motion abnormalities in acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: The ability to identify wall motion abnormalities may be useful for emergency clinicians, but is not typically evaluated in point-of-care echocardiograms. We sought to determine if emergency physicians with basic training in emergency echocardiography could identify regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) in patients admitted with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with admitted with STEMI. Resident physicians with basic training in emergency ultrasound, blinded to other patient data, performed a point-of-care echocardiogram to evaluate for RWMA. If present, they also recorded the suspected territory of the RWMA. We calculated test performance characteristics and compared the agreement between point-of-care and comprehensive echocardiogram for RWMA and territory. RESULTS: 75 patients with STEMI were enrolled, and 62% had a RMWA. RWMA were identified with excellent test performance characteristics (sensitivity 88% (95% CI 75-96); specificity 92% (95% CI 75-99)). There was substantial agreement between the point-of-care echocardiogram and reference standard (K = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Emergency physicians with core training in point-of-care echocardiography can accurately identify RMWA.

Carotid Flow Time Test Performance for the Detection of Dehydration in Children With Diarrhea.

OBJECTIVES: Unstructured clinical assessments of dehydration in children are inaccurate. Point-of-care ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic tool that can help evaluate the volume status; the corrected carotid artery flow time has been shown to predict volume depletion in adults. We sought to determine the ability of the corrected carotid artery flow time to identify dehydration in a population of children presenting with acute diarrhea in Dhaka, Bangladesh. METHODS: Children presenting with acute diarrhea were recruited and rehydrated according to hospital protocols. The corrected carotid artery flow time was measured at the time of presentation. The percentage of weight change with rehydration was used to categorize each child's dehydration as severe (>9%), some (3%-9%), or none (<3%). A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to test the performance of the corrected carotid artery flow time for detecting severe dehydration. Linear regression was used to model the relationship between the corrected carotid artery flow time and percentage of dehydration. RESULTS: A total of 350 children (0-60 months) were enrolled. The mean corrected carotid artery flow time was 326 milliseconds (interquartile range, 295-351 milliseconds). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the detection of severe dehydration was 0.51 (95% confidence interval, 0.42, 0.61). Linear regression modeling showed a weak association between the flow time and dehydration. CONCLUSIONS: The corrected carotid artery flow time was a poor predictor of severe dehydration in this population of children with diarrhea.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound Use, Accuracy, and Impact on Clinical Decision Making in Rwanda Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies of point-of-care ultrasound training and use in low resource settings have reported the impact of examinations on clinical management or the longer-term quality of trainee-performed studies. We characterized the long-term effect of a point-of-care ultrasound program on clinical decision making, and evaluated the quality of clinician-performed ultrasound studies. METHODS: We conducted point-of-care ultrasound training for physicians from Rwandan hospitals. Physicians then used point-of-care ultrasound and recorded their findings, interpretation, and effects on patient management. Data were collected for 6 months. Trainee studies were reviewed for image quality and accuracy. RESULTS: Fifteen participants documented 1158 ultrasounds; 590 studies (50.9%) had matched images and interpretations for review. Abdominal ultrasound for free fluid was the most frequently performed application. The mean image quality score was 2.36 (95% confidence interval, 2.28-2.44). Overall sensitivity and specificity for trainee-performed examinations was 94 and 98%. Point-of-care ultrasound use most commonly changed medications administered (42.4%) and disposition (30%). CONCLUSIONS: A point-of-care ultrasound training intervention in a low-resource setting resulted in high numbers of diagnostic-quality studies over long-term follow-up. Ultrasound use routinely changed clinical decision making.

Intensive point-of-care ultrasound training with long-term follow-up in a cohort of Rwandan physicians.

OBJECTIVE: We delivered a point-of-care ultrasound training programme in a resource-limited setting in Rwanda, and sought to determine participants' knowledge and skill retention. We also measured trainees' assessment of the usefulness of ultrasound in clinical practice. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 17 Rwandan physicians participating in a point-of-care ultrasound training programme. The follow-up period was 1 year. Participants completed a 10-day ultrasound course, with follow-up training delivered over the subsequent 12 months. Trainee knowledge acquisition and skill retention were assessed via observed structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) administered at six points during the study, and an image-based assessment completed at three points. RESULTS: Trainees reported minimal structured ultrasound education and little confidence using point-of-care ultrasound before the training. Mean scores on the image-based assessment increased from 36.9% (95% CI 32-41.8%) before the initial 10-day training to 74.3% afterwards (95% CI 69.4-79.2; P < 0.001). The mean score on the initial OSCE after the introductory course was 81.7% (95% CI 78-85.4%). The mean OSCE performance at each subsequent evaluation was at least 75%, and the mean OSCE score at the 58-week follow up was 84.9% (95% CI 80.9-88.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Physicians providing acute care in a resource-limited setting demonstrated sustained improvement in their ultrasound knowledge and skill 1 year after completing a clinical ultrasound training programme. They also reported improvements in their ability to provide patient care and in job satisfaction.

Carotid Flow Time Changes With Volume Status in Acute Blood Loss.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Noninvasive predictors of volume responsiveness may improve patient care in the emergency department. Doppler measurements of arterial blood flow have been proposed as a predictor of volume responsiveness. We seek to determine the effect of acute blood loss and a passive leg raise maneuver on corrected carotid artery flow time. METHODS: In a prospective cohort of blood donors, we obtained a Doppler tracing of blood flow through the carotid artery before and after blood loss. Measurements of carotid flow time, cardiac cycle time, and peak blood velocity were obtained in supine position and after a passive leg raise. Measurements of flow time were corrected for pulse rate. RESULTS: Seventy-nine donors were screened for participation; 70 completed the study. Donors had a mean blood loss of 452 mL. Mean corrected carotid artery flow time before blood loss was 320 ms (95% confidence interval [CI] 315 to 325 ms); this decreased after blood loss to 299 ms (95% CI 294 to 304 ms). A passive leg raise had little effect on mean corrected carotid artery flow time before blood loss (mean increase 4 ms; 95% CI -1 to 9 ms), but increased mean corrected carotid artery flow time after blood loss (mean increase 23 ms; 95% CI 18 to 28 ms) to predonation levels. CONCLUSION: Corrected carotid artery flow time decreased after acute blood loss. In the setting of acute hypovolemia, a passive leg raise restored corrected carotid artery flow time to predonation levels. Further investigation of corrected carotid artery flow time as a predictor of volume responsiveness is warranted.

Aortoenteric fistula identified by clinical ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Aortoenteric fistula is a rare but serious cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. Early diagnosis and definitive treatment with fistula repair may improve patient outcomes. We report the use of point-of-care ultrasound to identify an aortoenteric fistula in a patient presenting with abdominal pain and shock. CASE REPORT: A 78-year old man presented to the Emergency Department with abdominal pain and 5 days of minimal hematochezia. He was hypotensive and had diffuse abdominal tenderness. Point-of-care ultrasound was performed, demonstrating an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a hypoechoic projection into a segment of bowel abutting the aorta. Color flow was present through the structure, consistent with an aortoenteric fistula. After resuscitation with red blood cells, computed tomography was performed to confirm the diagnosis. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Clinical ultrasound has a well-established role in the detection of aortic aneurysm. This case illustrates that point-of-care ultrasound can also be used to rapidly identify an aortoenteric fistula and expedite timely care and surgical evaluation.

A practical guide to self-sustaining point-of-care ultrasound education programs in resource-limited settings.

The value of point-of-care ultrasound education in resource-limited settings is increasingly recognized, though little guidance exists on how to best construct a sustainable training program. Herein we offer a practical overview of core factors to consider when developing and implementing a point-of-care ultrasound education program in a resource-limited setting. Considerations include analysis of needs assessment findings, development of locally relevant curriculum, access to ultrasound machines and related technological and financial resources, quality assurance and follow-up plans, strategic partnerships, and outcomes measures. Well-planned education programs in these settings increase the potential for long-term influence on clinician skills and patient care.

Diagnosis of megaureter by point-of-care ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Presentation of congenital megaureter in adult life is rare; patients usually become symptomatic in childhood. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with dyspnea, tongue swelling, and a rash, which he attributed to amoxicillin he had taken shortly prior to onset of symptoms. He was hypotensive on arrival to the ED. To further evaluate the hypotension, point-of-care ultrasound of the heart, lungs, and abdomen were performed while treatment for anaphylaxis was initiated. Ultrasound examination did not identify a cause for hypotension, but the treating physician noted an anechoic structural abnormality posterior to the bladder, suggestive of megaureter. The patient responded well to treatment of anaphylaxis; further history and diagnostic imaging subsequently confirmed a diagnosis of congenital megaureter. CONCLUSION: We report an unusual case of congenital megaureter, identified by point-of-care ultrasound performed to evaluate hypotension. Clinicians performing limited ultrasound examinations must be attentive to incidental findings that will require follow-up.

Identification of splenic infarction by emergency department ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Splenic rupture or infarction can occur secondary to acute infectious mononucleosis. Patients with abdominal pain and known or suspected infectious mononucleosis mandate evaluation for these complications, which can have significant morbidity or mortality. CASE REPORT: An 18-year old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with a 2-day history of left upper quadrant abdominal pain. He had been diagnosed with mononucleosis 4 days before his ED presentation. Physical examination was notable for focal left upper quadrant tenderness. The treating physician's principal diagnostic considerations were splenic rupture or infarction secondary to mononucleosis. Point-of-care ultrasound was performed by the emergency physician, demonstrating multiple hypoechoic areas in the splenic parenchyma with absent Doppler flow, consistent with multiple splenic infarcts. The patient was admitted for observation, managed conservatively, and had an uneventful course. CONCLUSION: Emergency ultrasound of the spleen can allow rapid diagnosis of splenic infarction and exclusion of splenic rupture in a patient at risk for splenic pathology.