Integrating point-of-care ultrasound in the ED evaluation of patients presenting with chest pain and shortness of breath.

OBJECTIVE: The differential diagnoses of patients presenting with chest pain (CP) and shortness of breath (SOB) are broad and non-specific. We aimed to 1) determine how use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) impacted emergency physicians' differential diagnosis, and 2) evaluate the accuracy of POCUS when compared to chest radiograph (CXR) and composite final diagnosis. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in a convenience sample of patients presenting with CP and SOB to the Emergency Department (ED). Treating physicians selected possible diagnoses from a pre-indexed list of possible diagnoses of causes of CP and SOB. The final composite diagnosis from a chart review was determined as the reference standard for the diagnosis. The primary analysis involved calculations of sensitivity and specificity for POCUS identifiable diagnoses in detecting cause of CP and SOB. Additional comparative accuracy analysis with CXRs were conducted. RESULTS: 128 patients with a mean age of 64 ±â€¯17 years were included in the study. Using a reference standard of composite final diagnoses, POCUS had equal or higher specificity to CXR for all indications for which it was used, except for pneumonia. POCUS correctly identified all patients with pneumothorax, pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. In patients with a normal thoracic ultrasound, CXR never provided any actionable clinical information. Adding POCUS to the initial evaluation causes a significant narrowing of the differential diagnoses in which the median differential diagnosis from 5 (IQR 3-6) to 3 (IQR 2-4) p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: In evaluation of patients with CP and SOB, POCUS is a highly feasible diagnostic test which can assist in narrowing down the differential diagnoses. In patients with a normal thoracic ultrasound, the added value of a CXR may be minimal.

Bedside Ultrasound Reduces Diagnostic Uncertainty and Guides Resuscitation in Patients With Undifferentiated Hypotension.

OBJECTIVES: Utilization of ultrasound in the evaluation of patients with undifferentiated hypotension has been proposed in several protocols. We sought to assess the impact of an ultrasound hypotension protocol on physicians' diagnostic certainty, diagnostic ability, and treatment and resource utilization. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Emergency department in a single, academic tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of patients with a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg after an initial fluid resuscitation, who lacked an obvious source of hypotension. INTERVENTIONS: An ultrasound-trained physician performed an ultrasound on each patient using a standardized hypotension protocol. Differential diagnosis and management plan was solicited from the treating physician immediately before and after the ultrasound. Blinded chart review was conducted for management and diagnosis during the emergency department and inpatient hospital stay. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoints were the identification of an accurate cause for hypotension and change in physicians' diagnostic uncertainty. The secondary endpoints were changes in treatment plan, use of resources, and changes in disposition after performing the ultrasound. One hundred eighteen patients with a mean age of 62 years were enrolled. There was a significant 27.7% decrease in the mean aggregate complexity of diagnostic uncertainty before and after the ultrasound hypotension protocol (1.85-1.34; -0.51 [95% CI, -0.41 to -0.62]) as well as a significant increase in the absolute proportion of patients with a definitive diagnosis from 0.8% to 12.7%. Overall, the leading diagnosis after the ultrasound hypotension protocol demonstrated excellent concordance with the blinded consensus final diagnosis (Cohen k = 0.80). Twenty-nine patients (24.6%) had a significant change in the use of IV fluids, vasoactive agents, or blood products. There were also significant changes in major diagnostic imaging (30.5%), consultation (13.6%), and emergency department disposition (11.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical management involving the early use of ultrasound in patients with hypotension accurately guides diagnosis, significantly reduces physicians' diagnostic uncertainty, and substantially changes management and resource utilization in the emergency department.