1
|
Siniscalchi C, Nouvenne A, Cerundolo N, Meschi T, Ticinesi A. Diaphragm Ultrasound in Different Clinical Scenarios: A Review with a Focus on Older Patients. Geriatrics (Basel) 2024; 9:70. [PMID: 38920426 PMCID: PMC11202496 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics9030070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Diaphragm muscle dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a fundamental marker of several age-related diseases and conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure and critical illness with respiratory failure. In older individuals with physical frailty and sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass and function may also involve the diaphragm, contributing to respiratory dysfunction. Ultrasound has recently emerged as a feasible and reliable strategy to visualize diaphragm structure and function. In particular, it can help to predict the timing of extubation in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in intensive care units (ICUs). Ultrasonographic evaluation of diaphragmatic function is relatively cheap, safe and quick and can provide useful information for real-time monitoring of respiratory function. In this review, we aim to present the current state of scientific evidence on the usefulness of ultrasound in the assessment of diaphragm dysfunction in different clinical settings, with a particular focus on older patients. We highlight the importance of the qualitative information gathered by ultrasound to assess the integrity, excursion, thickness and thickening of the diaphragm. The implementation of bedside diaphragm ultrasound could be useful for improving the quality and appropriateness of care, especially in older subjects with sarcopenia who experience acute respiratory failure, not only in the ICU setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Siniscalchi
- Department of Continuity of Care and Multicomplexity, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (C.S.); (A.N.); (N.C.); (T.M.)
| | - Antonio Nouvenne
- Department of Continuity of Care and Multicomplexity, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (C.S.); (A.N.); (N.C.); (T.M.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Cerundolo
- Department of Continuity of Care and Multicomplexity, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (C.S.); (A.N.); (N.C.); (T.M.)
| | - Tiziana Meschi
- Department of Continuity of Care and Multicomplexity, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (C.S.); (A.N.); (N.C.); (T.M.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ticinesi
- Department of Continuity of Care and Multicomplexity, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (C.S.); (A.N.); (N.C.); (T.M.)
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nouvenne A, Ticinesi A, Siniscalchi C, Rendo M, Cerundolo N, Parise A, Castaldo G, Chiussi G, Carrassi R, Guerra A, Meschi T. The Multidisciplinary Mobile Unit (MMU) Program Bringing Hospital Specialist Geriatric Competencies at Home: A Feasible Alternative to Admission in Older Patients with Urgent Complaints. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2720. [PMID: 38731249 PMCID: PMC11084740 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Older patients are subject to a high number of Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. Innovative strategies to manage geriatric urgencies in the community are thus needed. Methods: In this prospective observational study, we examined the case mix of a hospital-based domiciliary urgent care service tailored to older patients, called Multidisciplinary Mobile Unit (MMU), from January to September 2023. The service, activated by general practitioners or territorial specialists during workdays, provided domiciliary geriatric assessment, point-of-care diagnostics, including multi-site ultrasound and lab tests, and therapeutical measures, including intravenous treatment and insertion of invasive devices, with the goal of reaching on-site stabilization and avoiding ED referral. We collected data regarding multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and frailty according to the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), reasons for MMU activation, and diagnostic and therapeutical services provided. The assessed outcomes were immediate hospitalization after a visit, 30-day admission, and 30-day mortality. Results: Participants (n = 205, 102 M) were mostly aged (median age 83 years old), with multimorbidity and frailty (CFS median 6). The most frequent reasons for MMU activation were dyspnea (49%), cough (34%), and musculoskeletal pain (17%), while the commonest diagnostic test provided was thoracic ultrasound (81%). Only five patients (2.4%) were hospitalized immediately after MMU visit. The 30-day rate of hospitalization was 10.2%, with age, cancer, and abdominal pain as independent predictors on a stepwise binary logistic regression model. 30-day mortality was 4.9%. Conclusions: The MMU model is a feasible strategy to manage geriatric urgencies, especially involving the cardiorespiratory system, is associated with good outcomes and may prevent ED visits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Nouvenne
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.N.); (A.T.); (R.C.); (A.G.); (T.M.)
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Andrea Ticinesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.N.); (A.T.); (R.C.); (A.G.); (T.M.)
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Carmine Siniscalchi
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Martina Rendo
- Primary Care Department, Parma District, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Strada del Quartiere 2/A, 43125 Parma, Italy;
| | - Nicoletta Cerundolo
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Alberto Parise
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Giampiero Castaldo
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Giulia Chiussi
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Richard Carrassi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.N.); (A.T.); (R.C.); (A.G.); (T.M.)
| | - Angela Guerra
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.N.); (A.T.); (R.C.); (A.G.); (T.M.)
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| | - Tiziana Meschi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (A.N.); (A.T.); (R.C.); (A.G.); (T.M.)
- Parma University Hospital—Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy; (N.C.); (A.P.); (G.C.); (G.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Landolfo M, Spannella F, Giulietti F, Di Pentima C, Giordano P, Borioni E, Landi L, Di Rosa M, Galeazzi R, Sarzani R. Role of NT-proBNP and lung ultrasound in diagnosing and classifying heart failure in a hospitalized oldest-old population: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:354. [PMID: 38643091 PMCID: PMC11032608 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04977-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM Diagnosing and classifying heart failure (HF) in the oldest-old patients has technical and interpretation issues, especially in the acute setting. We assessed the usefulness of both N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and lung ultrasound (LUS) for confirming HF diagnosis and predicting, among hospitalized HF patients, those with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study on 148 consecutive patients aged ≥ 80 years admitted to our Internal Medicine and Geriatrics ward with at least one symptom/sign compatible with HF and NT-proBNP ≥ 125 pg/mL. We measured serum NT-proBNP levels and performed LUS and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on admission before diuretic therapy. We divided our cohort into three subgroups according to the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): reduced (LVEF ≤ 40%), mildly-reduced (LVEF = 41-49%) and preserved (LVEF ≥ 50%). RESULTS The mean age was 88±5 years. Male prevalence was 42%. Patients with HFrEF were 19%. Clinical features and laboratory parameters did not differ between the three subgroups, except for higher NT-proBNP in HFrEF patients, which also had a higher number of total B-lines and intercostal spaces of pleural effusion at LUS. Overall, NT-proBNP showed an inverse correlation with LVEF (r = -0.22, p = 0.007) and a direct correlation with age, total pulmonary B-lines, and intercostal spaces of pleural effusion. According to the ROCs, NT-proBNP levels, pulmonary B-lines and pleural effusion extension were poorly predictive for HFrEF. The best-performing cut-offs were 9531 pg/mL for NT-proBNP (SP 0.70, SE 0.50), 13 for total B-lines (SP 0.69, SE 0.85) and one intercostal space for pleural effusion (SP 0.55, SE 0.89). Patients with admission NT-proBNP ≥ 9531 pg/mL had a 2-fold higher risk for HFrEF (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.9), while we did not find any association for total B-lines ≥ 13 or pleural effusion ≥ 1 intercostal space with HFrEF. A significant association with HFrEF emerged for the combination of NT-proBNP ≥ 9531 pg/mL, total B-lines ≥ 13 and intercostal spaces of pleural effusion ≥ 1 (adjusted OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.5-12.9). CONCLUSIONS Although NT-proBNP and LUS help diagnose HF, their accuracy in discriminating HFrEF from non-HFrEF was poor in our real-life clinical study on oldest-old hospitalized patients, making the use of TTE still necessary to distinguish HF phenotypes in this peculiar setting. These data require confirmation in more extensive and longer prospective studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Landolfo
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Spannella
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy.
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Federico Giulietti
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Pentima
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy
| | - Piero Giordano
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Borioni
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Laura Landi
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Mirko Di Rosa
- Unit of Geriatric Pharmacoepidemiology and Biostatistics, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Roberta Galeazzi
- Clinical Laboratory and Molecular Diagnostic, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Riccardo Sarzani
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, IRCCS INRCA, Via della Montagnola 81, 60127, Ancona, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, University Politecnica Delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Scarlata S, Okoye C, Zotti S, Lauretani F, Nouvenne A, Cerundolo N, Bruni AA, Torrini M, Finazzi A, Mazzarone T, Lunian M, Zucchini I, Maccioni L, Guarino D, Fabbri Della Faggiola S, Capacci M, Bianco MG, Guarona G, Bellelli G, Monzani F, Virdis A, Antonelli Incalzi R, Ungar A, Ticinesi A. Advancing healthcare through thoracic ultrasound research in older patients. Aging Clin Exp Res 2023; 35:2887-2901. [PMID: 37950845 PMCID: PMC10721707 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-023-02590-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports the proceedings of a meeting convened by the Research Group on Thoracic Ultrasound in Older People of the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics, to discuss the current state-of-the-art of clinical research in the field of geriatric thoracic ultrasound and identify unmet research needs and potential areas of development. In the last decade, point-of-care thoracic ultrasound has entered clinical practice for diagnosis and management of several respiratory illnesses, such as bacterial and viral pneumonia, pleural effusion, acute heart failure, and pneumothorax, especially in the emergency-urgency setting. Very few studies, however, have been specifically focused on older patients with frailty and multi-morbidity, who frequently exhibit complex clinical pictures needing multidimensional evaluation. At the present state of knowledge, there is still uncertainty on the best requirements of ultrasound equipment, methodology of examination, and reporting needed to optimize the advantages of thoracic ultrasound implementation in the care of geriatric patients. Other issues regard differential diagnosis between bacterial and aspiration pneumonia, objective grading of interstitial syndrome severity, quantification and monitoring of pleural effusions and solid pleural lesions, significance of ultrasonographic assessment of post-COVID-19 sequelae, and prognostic value of assessment of diaphragmatic thickness and motility. Finally, application of remote ultrasound diagnostics in the community and nursing home setting is still poorly investigated by the current literature. Overall, the presence of several open questions on geriatric applications of thoracic ultrasound represents a strong call to implement clinical research in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Scarlata
- Operative Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Geriatrics, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Chukwuma Okoye
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Giovanni Battista Pergolesi 33, 20900, Monza, Italy.
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Department of Geriatrics Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sonia Zotti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Geriatrics, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Fulvio Lauretani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Antonio Nouvenne
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Cerundolo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Adriana Antonella Bruni
- Acute Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo de Tintori, Via Giovanni Battista Pergolesi 33, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Monica Torrini
- Geriatrics and Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Finazzi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Giovanni Battista Pergolesi 33, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Tessa Mazzarone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Lunian
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Irene Zucchini
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Maccioni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela Guarino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Marco Capacci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Bianco
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Guglielmo Guarona
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Bellelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Giovanni Battista Pergolesi 33, 20900, Monza, Italy
- Acute Geriatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo de Tintori, Via Giovanni Battista Pergolesi 33, 20900, Monza, Italy
| | - Fabio Monzani
- Casa di Cura Venerabile Confraternita di Misericordia Navacchio, 56023, Pisa, Italy
| | - Agostino Virdis
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi
- Operative Research Unit of Internal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Research Unit of Geriatrics, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Ungar
- Geriatrics and Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Ticinesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gogtay M, Choudhury RS, Williams JP, Mader MJ, Murray KJ, Haro EK, Drum B, O'Brien E, Khosla R, Boyd JS, Bales B, Wetherbee E, Sauthoff H, Schott CK, Basrai Z, Resop D, Lucas BP, Sanchez-Reilly S, Espinosa S, Soni NJ, Nathanson R. Point-of-care ultrasound in geriatrics: a national survey of VA medical centers. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:605. [PMID: 37759172 PMCID: PMC10537073 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04313-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can aid geriatricians in caring for complex, older patients. Currently, there is limited literature on POCUS use by geriatricians. We conducted a national survey to assess current POCUS use, training desired, and barriers among Geriatrics and Extended Care ("geriatric") clinics at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs). METHODS We conducted a prospective observational study of all VAMCs between August 2019 and March 2020 using a web-based survey sent to all VAMC Chiefs of Staff and Chiefs of geriatric clinics. RESULTS All Chiefs of Staff (n=130) completed the survey (100% response rate). Chiefs of geriatric clinics ("chiefs") at 76 VAMCs were surveyed and 52 completed the survey (68% response rate). Geriatric clinics were located throughout the United States, mostly at high-complexity, urban VAMCs. Only 15% of chiefs responded that there was some POCUS usage in their geriatric clinic, but more than 60% of chiefs would support the implementation of POCUS use. The most common POCUS applications used in geriatric clinics were the evaluation of the bladder and urinary obstruction. Barriers to POCUS use included a lack of trained providers (56%), ultrasound equipment (50%), and funding for training (35%). Additionally, chiefs reported time utilization, clinical indications, and low patient census as barriers. CONCLUSIONS POCUS has several potential applications for clinicians caring for geriatric patients. Though only 15% of geriatric clinics at VAMCs currently use POCUS, most geriatric chiefs would support implementing POCUS use as a diagnostic tool. The greatest barriers to POCUS implementation in geriatric clinics were a lack of training and ultrasound equipment. Addressing these barriers systematically can facilitate implementation of POCUS use into practice and permit assessment of the impact of POCUS on geriatric care in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maya Gogtay
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Ryan S Choudhury
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jason P Williams
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Medicine Service, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael J Mader
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Research Service, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kevin J Murray
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Haro
- Medicine Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Brandy Drum
- Health Analysis and Information Group, Department of Veterans Affairs, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Edward O'Brien
- Health Analysis and Information Group, Department of Veterans Affairs, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Rahul Khosla
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jeremy S Boyd
- Department of Emergency Medicine, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System-Nashville, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Brain Bales
- Department of Emergency Medicine, VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System-Nashville, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Erin Wetherbee
- Pulmonary Section, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Harald Sauthoff
- Medicine Service, VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, New York, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher K Schott
- Critical Care Service, VA Pittsburgh Health Care Systems, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Departments of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zahir Basrai
- Emergency Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dana Resop
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Emergency Department, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Brian P Lucas
- Medicine Service, White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, USA
- Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Sandra Sanchez-Reilly
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sara Espinosa
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Medicine, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nilam J Soni
- Medicine Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Robert Nathanson
- Medicine Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Division of Hospital Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Prendki V, Garin N, Stirnemann J, Combescure C, Platon A, Bernasconi E, Sauter T, Hautz W. LOw-dose CT Or Lung UltraSonography versus standard of care based-strategies for the diagnosis of pneumonia in the elderly: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial (OCTOPLUS). BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055869. [PMID: 35523502 PMCID: PMC9083386 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality and a common indication for antibiotic in elderly patients. However, its diagnosis is often inaccurate. We aim to compare the diagnostic accuracy, the clinical and cost outcomes and the use of antibiotics associated with three imaging strategies in patients >65 years old with suspected pneumonia in the emergency room (ER): chest X-ray (CXR, standard of care), low-dose CT scan (LDCT) or lung ultrasonography (LUS). METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is a multicentre randomised superiority clinical trial with three parallel arms. Patients will be allocated in the ER to a diagnostic strategy based on either CXR, LDCT or LUS. All three imaging modalities will be performed but the results of two of them will be masked during 5 days to the patients, the physicians in charge of the patients and the investigators according to random allocation. The primary objective is to compare the accuracy of LDCT versus CXR-based strategies. As secondary objectives, antibiotics prescription, clinical and cost outcomes will be compared, and the same analyses repeated to compare the LUS and CXR strategies. The reference diagnosis will be established a posteriori by a panel of experts. Based on a previous study, we expect an improvement of 16% of the accuracy of pneumonia diagnosis using LDCT instead of CXR. Under this assumption, and accounting for 10% of drop-out, the enrolment of 495 patients is needed to prove the superiority of LDCT over CRX (alpha error=0.05, beta error=0.10). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval: CER Geneva 2019-01288. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04978116.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Prendki
- Division of Internal Medicine for the Aged, Geneva University Hospitals, Thônex, Switzerland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Garin
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Riviera Chablais Hospitals, Rennaz, Switzerland
- Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jerome Stirnemann
- Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Combescure
- Department of Health and Community Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Platon
- Diagnostic Department, Division of Radiology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Enos Bernasconi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, University of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Sauter
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wolf Hautz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Nouvenne A, Ticinesi A, Cerundolo N, Prati B, Parise A, Chiussi G, Frosio L, Guerra A, Brianti E, Fabi M, Meschi T. Implementing a multidisciplinary rapid geriatric observation unit for non-critical older patients referred to hospital: observational study on real-world data. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:599-609. [PMID: 34472045 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-01967-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Geriatric rapid observation units may represent an alternative to hospitalization in older patients with non-critical acute illness. AIMS To describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted to a geriatric observation unit called URGe (Unità Geriatrica Rapida), implemented in an Italian hospital and characterized by multidisciplinary medical staff with geriatric expertise, fast-track access to diagnostic resources, regular use of point-of-care ultrasound and predicted length of stay (LOS) < 72 h. METHODS The medical records of patients admitted to URGe during a 3-month period (452 subjects, 247 F and 205 M, median age 82 years, IQR 77-87) were retrospectively examined. The primary study endpoint was transferral from URGe to regular wards. Baseline covariates included demographics, comprehensive geriatric assessment, acute illnesses, comorbidities, vital signs and routine laboratory tests. RESULTS Despite elevated burden of multimorbidity (median number of chronic diseases 4, IQR 2-5) and frailty (median Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale score 4, IQR 3-6), only 137 patients (30.3%) required transferral from URGe to regular wards. The main factors positively associated with this outcome were Rockwood score, fever, cancer and red cell distribution width (P < 0.05 on multivariate logistic regression model). The rate of complications (mortality, delirium, and falls) during URGe stay was low (0.5%, 7% and 2%, respectively). Overall duration of hospital stay was lower than that of a group of historical controls matched by age, sex, main diagnosis, multimorbidity and frailty. CONCLUSIONS The URGe model of acute geriatric care is feasible, safe and has the potential of reducing unnecessary hospitalizations of older patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Nouvenne
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ticinesi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy.
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Nicoletta Cerundolo
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Beatrice Prati
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Giulia Chiussi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Frosio
- Post-Graduate Specialization Course in Emergency-Urgency Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Angela Guerra
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Ettore Brianti
- General Management, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Massimo Fabi
- General Management, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tiziana Meschi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Di Parma, Via Antonio Gramsci 14, 43126, Parma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Saha BK, Chong WH, Austin A, Kathuria R, Datar P, Shkolnik B, Beegle S, Chopra A. Pleural abnormalities in COVID-19: a narrative review. J Thorac Dis 2021; 13:4484-4499. [PMID: 34422375 PMCID: PMC8339774 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-21-542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective This narrative review aims to provide a detailed overview of pleural abnormalities in patients with coronavirus disease 19 or COVID-19. Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) is a novel beta coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. Although pulmonary parenchymal and vascular changes associated with COVID-19 are well established, pleural space abnormalities have not been the primary focus of investigations. Methods Narrative overview of the medical literature regarding pleural space abnormalities in COVID-19. The appropriate manuscripts were identified by searching electronic medical databases and by hand searching the bibliography of the identified papers. Pleural abnormalities on transverse and ultrasound imaging are discussed. The incidence, clinical features, pathophysiology, and fluid characteristics of pleural effusion are reviewed. Studies reporting pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are examined to evaluate for pathogenesis and prognosis. A brief comparative analysis of pleural abnormalities among patients with COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) has been provided. Conclusions Radiologic pleural abnormalities are common in COVID-19, but the incidence of pleural effusion appears to be low. Pneumothorax is rare and does not independently predispose the patient to worse outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 infects the pleural space; however, whether the pleural fluid can propagate the infection is unclear.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Biplab K Saha
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains, MO, USA
| | - Woon H Chong
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Adam Austin
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ritu Kathuria
- Department of Infectious Disease, Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains, MO, USA
| | - Praveen Datar
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ozarks Medical Center, West Plains, MO, USA
| | - Boris Shkolnik
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Scott Beegle
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Amit Chopra
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Linsalata G, Okoye C, Antognoli R, Guarino D, Ravenna V, Orsitto E, Calsolaro V, Monzani F. Pneumonia Lung Ultrasound Score (PLUS): A New Tool for Detecting Pneumonia in the Oldest Patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 2020; 68:2855-2862. [PMID: 33264442 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound (LUS) and standard chest X-ray (CXR) in older patients admitted to an acute-care geriatric ward for suspected acute pneumonia, and to develop an easy-to-use diagnostic tool, now called Pneumonia Lung Ultrasound Score (PLUS), for early risk stratification. DESIGN Prospective, single-center, cohort study. SETTING Acute-care geriatric ward of tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS Individuals, aged 65 years and older, with suspected acute pneumonia. MEASUREMENTS Participants were stratified according to the Multidimensional Prognostic Index. All the patients underwent CXR and LUS, whereas chest computed tomography was performed in case of mismatch between LUS and CXR. Using logistic multivariate regression, we assessed the influence of age, sex, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, and clinical biomarkers in the misdiagnosis of acute pneumonia. Finally, an easy-to-perform diagnostic tool based on the combination of biomarkers (brain natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and partial pressure arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio) and LUS was realized. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to verify the predictive accuracy of PLUS, CXR, and LUS in pneumonia diagnosis. RESULTS A total of 132 subjects (69% women; mean age = 85.3 ± 6.9 years) were enrolled in the study. Acute pneumonia was diagnosed in 94 of 132 cases. LUS showed higher diagnostic accuracy compared with CXR (0.91 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.85-0.93) vs 0.67 (95% CI = 0.58-0.75)) in detecting pneumonic consolidations. A higher degree of cognitive impairment was associated with both LUS and CXR pneumonia misdiagnosis (odds ratio = 1.30 (95% CI = 1.04-1.65)). PLUS showed higher predictive accuracy in the diagnosis of acute pneumonia compared with LUS (AUC = 0.92 (95% CI = 0.87-0.98) vs 0.86 (95% CI = 0.80-0.96); P = .029). CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the higher diagnostic accuracy of LUS compared with CXR for acute pneumonia in older adults. Nonetheless, the accuracy of PLUS, an easy-to-use, biomarker-derived diagnostic tool, was superior to LUS regardless of patients' degree of frailty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Linsalata
- Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chukwuma Okoye
- Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rachele Antognoli
- Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela Guarino
- Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Virginia Ravenna
- Emergency Radiology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eugenio Orsitto
- Emergency Radiology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Calsolaro
- Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Monzani
- Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Nouvenne A, Zani MD, Milanese G, Parise A, Baciarello M, Bignami EG, Odone A, Sverzellati N, Meschi T, Ticinesi A. Lung Ultrasound in COVID-19 Pneumonia: Correlations with Chest CT on Hospital admission. Respiration 2020; 99:617-624. [PMID: 32570265 PMCID: PMC7360505 DOI: 10.1159/000509223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an accurate, safe, and cheap tool assisting in the diagnosis of several acute respiratory diseases. The diagnostic value of LUS in the workup of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in the hospital setting is still uncertain. Objectives The aim of this observational study was to explore correlations of the LUS appearance of COVID-19-related pneumonia with CT findings. Methods Twenty-six patients (14 males, age 64 ± 16 years) urgently hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, who underwent chest CT and bedside LUS on the day of admission, were enrolled in this observational study. CT images were reviewed by expert chest radiologists, who calculated a visual CT score based on extension and distribution of ground-glass opacities and consolidations. LUS was performed by clinicians with certified competency in thoracic ultrasonography, blind to CT findings, following a systematic approach recommended by ultrasound guidelines. LUS score was calculated according to presence, distribution, and severity of abnormalities. Results All participants had CT findings suggestive of bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, with an average visual scoring of 43 ± 24%. LUS identified 4 different possible abnormalities, with bilateral distribution (average LUS score 15 ± 5): focal areas of nonconfluent B lines, diffuse confluent B lines, small subpleural microconsolidations with pleural line irregularities, and large parenchymal consolidations with air bronchograms. LUS score was significantly correlated with CT visual scoring (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and oxygen saturation in room air (r = −0.66, p < 0.001). Conclusion When integrated with clinical data, LUS could represent a valid diagnostic aid in patients with suspect COVID-19 pneumonia, which reflects CT findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Nouvenne
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Davìd Zani
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Gianluca Milanese
- Diagnostic Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Baciarello
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,General and Specialized Surgical Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Elena Giovanna Bignami
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,General and Specialized Surgical Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Anna Odone
- Faculty of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Sverzellati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,Diagnostic Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tiziana Meschi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ticinesi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy,
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nouvenne A, Ticinesi A, Parise A, Prati B, Esposito M, Cocchi V, Crisafulli E, Volpi A, Rossi S, Bignami EG, Baciarello M, Brianti E, Fabi M, Meschi T. Point-of-Care Chest Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Resource for COVID-19 Outbreak in Nursing Homes. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020; 21:919-923. [PMID: 32571651 PMCID: PMC7247494 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective Bedside chest ultrasonography, when integrated with clinical data, is an accurate tool for improving the diagnostic process of many respiratory diseases. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a chest ultrasonographic screening program in nursing homes for detecting coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)–related pneumonia and improving the appropriateness of hospital referral of residents. Design Pragmatic, descriptive, feasibility study from April 2 to April 9, 2020. Setting and Participants A total of 83 older residents (age 85 ± 8) presenting mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and not previously tested for COVID-19, residing in 5 nursing homes in Northern Italy. Methods Chest ultrasonography was performed at the bedside by a team of hospital specialists with certified expertise in thoracic ultrasonography, following a systematic approach exploring 4 different areas for each hemithorax, from the anterior and posterior side. Presence of ultrasonographic signs of interstitial pneumonia, including comet-tail artifacts (B-lines) with focal or diffuse distribution, subpleural consolidations, and pleural line indentation, was detected. The specialist team integrated ultrasonography data with clinical and anamnestic information, and gave personalized therapeutic advice for each patient, including hospital referral when needed. Results The most frequent reasons for ultrasonographic evaluation were fever (63% of participants) and mild dyspnea (40%). Fifty-six patients (67%) had abnormal ultrasonographic findings. The most common patterns were presence of multiple subpleural consolidations (32 patients) and diffuse B-lines (24 patients), with bilateral involvement. A diagnosis of suspect COVID-19 pneumonia was made in 44 patients, and 6 of them required hospitalization. Twelve patients had ultrasonographic patterns suggesting other respiratory diseases, and 2 patients with normal ultrasonographic findings were diagnosed with COPD exacerbation. Conclusions and Implications In nursing home residents, screening of COVID-19 pneumonia with bedside chest ultrasonography is feasible and may represent a valid diagnostic aid for an early detection of COVID-19 outbreaks and adequate patient management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Nouvenne
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ticinesi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Alberto Parise
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Beatrice Prati
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marcello Esposito
- Post-Graduate Specialization Course in Emergency-Urgency Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Valentina Cocchi
- Post-Graduate Specialization Course in Emergency-Urgency Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Emanuele Crisafulli
- Post-Graduate Specialization Course in Emergency-Urgency Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Annalisa Volpi
- Emergency-Urgency Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma and Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Sandra Rossi
- Emergency-Urgency Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma and Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Elena Giovanna Bignami
- Department of Medicine and Surgey, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; General Surgical and Specialistic Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Baciarello
- Department of Medicine and Surgey, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; General Surgical and Specialistic Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Ettore Brianti
- General Management, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Massimo Fabi
- General Management, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Tiziana Meschi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgey, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hospitalization and Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020; 21:441-443. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
|
13
|
Ticinesi A, Lauretani F, Nouvenne A, Ungar A, Incalzi RA, Scarlata S. Chest ultrasound in Italian geriatric wards: use, applications and clinicians’ attitudes. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS 2020. [DOI: 10.36150/2499-6564-337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
14
|
Nouvenne A, Caminiti C, Diodati F, Iezzi E, Prati B, Lucertini S, Schianchi P, Pascale F, Starcich B, Manotti P, Brianti E, Fabi M, Ticinesi A, Meschi T. Implementation of a strategy involving a multidisciplinary mobile unit team to prevent hospital admission in nursing home residents: protocol of a quasi-experimental study (MMU-1 study). BMJ Open 2020; 10:e034742. [PMID: 32071189 PMCID: PMC7045229 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nursing home residents represent a particularly vulnerable population experiencing high risk of unplanned hospital admissions, but few interventions have proved effective in reducing this risk. The aim of this research will be to verify the effects of a hospital-based multidisciplinary mobile unit (MMU) team intervention delivering urgent care to nursing home residents directly at their bedside. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Four nursing homes based in the Parma province, in Northern Italy, will be involved in this prospective, pragmatic, multicentre, 18-month quasiexperimental study (sequential design with two cohorts). The residents of two nursing homes will receive the MMU team care intervention. In case of urgent care needs, the nursing home physician will contact the hospital physician responsible for the MMU team by phone. The case will be triaged as (a) manageable by phone advice, (b) requiring urgent assessment by the MMU team or (c) requiring immediate emergency department (ED) referral. MMU team is composed of one senior physician and one emergency-medicine resident chosen within the staff of Internal Medicine and Critical Subacute Care Unit of Parma University-Hospital, usually with different specialty background, and equipped with portable ultrasound, set of drugs and devices useful in urgency. The MMU visits patients in nursing homes, with the mission to stabilise clinical conditions and avoid hospital admission. Residents of the other two nursing homes will receive usual care, that is, ED referral in every case of urgency. Study endpoints include unplanned hospital admissions (primary), crude all-cause mortality, hospital mortality, length of stay and healthcare-related costs (secondary). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Area Vasta Emilia Nord (Emilia-Romagna region). Informed consent will be collected from patients or legal representatives. The results will be actively disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations, in compliance with the Italian law. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04085679); Pre-results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Nouvenne
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Caterina Caminiti
- Research and Innovation Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Francesca Diodati
- Research and Innovation Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Elisa Iezzi
- Research and Innovation Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Beatrice Prati
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Stefano Lucertini
- Primary Care Department, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Paolo Schianchi
- Primary Care Department, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Federica Pascale
- Primary Care Department, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Bruno Starcich
- Primary Care Department, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Pietro Manotti
- Medical Direction, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Ettore Brianti
- Medical Direction, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Massimo Fabi
- General Management, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Andrea Ticinesi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
| | - Tiziana Meschi
- Geriatric-Rehabilitation Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| |
Collapse
|