Diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound for pulmonary embolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Prognostic Value of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio for Pulmonary Embolism: A Meta-Analysis and External Validation

BACKGROUND

Prognostic value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for pulmonary embolism (PE) has been reported in several retrospective studies. The purpose of this investigation was to perform a pooled analysis and external validation of predictive value of NLR.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to November 5, 2022. A random effects model was used. Grade was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. External validation was conducted in clinical cohorts before and after a propensity scoring matching (PSM). Covariates include basic clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, etc. The value of NLR in prediction model was also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies comprising 5,874 patients were included. Pooled risk ratio of NLR was 2.33 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.97-2.75), with an area under the curve of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.74-0.81), a sensitivity of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.71-0.79), a specificity of 0.67 (95% CI: 0.61-0.73), and a median cut-off value of 5.7. Grade of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) certainty analysis showed the quality of the evidence was moderate. Before (n = 336) and after (n = 152) propensity scoring matching, risk ratio of NLR was 2.69 (95% CI: 1.04-6.97) and 6.58 (95% CI: 1.99-17.75). A prediction model consisting of NLR, age, D-dimer, and simplified PE severity index had an area under the curve of 0.809 (95% CI: 0.738-0.88), a sensitivity of 0.638 (95% CI: 0.511-0.745), and a specificity of 0.851 (95% CI: 0.709-0.917). Net reclassification index (12%, P = 0.035) and integrated discrimination improvement (17%, P = 0.022) indicated an improvement caused by NLR.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic value of NLR for PE was confirmed by meta-analysis and validated in an independent cohort, deserving further clinical application.

Case report: Application of color Doppler sonography for the assessment of pulmonary consolidations in a dog

A 1,5-year-old male Maltipoo was presented to the emergency service for dyspnea, weakness, and cough. An echocardiographic examination showed evidence of pulmonary hypertension with a McConnell sign. Lung ultrasound, including color Doppler, was performed and identified two distinct populations of lung consolidation. Color Doppler analysis of the first type of consolidation showed the absence of blood flow within regions of the consolidation and flow amputation. These findings were consistent with the "vascular sign" reported in human medicine and prompted consideration of pulmonary thromboembolism as a differential diagnosis. In the second type of consolidation, color Doppler identified blood flow within the pulmonary vessels of the consolidated lung, forming a "branching tree-like" pattern that followed the anatomical course of the pulmonary vasculature. These findings suggested that blood flow was preserved within the pulmonary vasculature of the consolidated lung and prompted consideration of inflammatory causes of pulmonary pathology. On recheck 6 days later, recanalization of the first type of consolidation was identified with color Doppler. The case was followed serially once a month for 5 months with LUS, which showed continued improvement. Based on a positive fecal Baermann test, a final diagnosis of Angiostrongylus vasorum was made. New or Unique information Provided-this is the first report of color Doppler LUS being used to characterize and help differentiate the cause of lung consolidation in dogs.

The Diagnostic Role of Lung Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Pulmonary Embolism

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) relies essentially on a probabilistic approach that requires careful clinical assessments, targeted laboratory tests, and the use of appropriate imaging tools. Nowadays, the diagnostic gold standard is computed tomographic pulmonary angiography. Lung ultrasound (LUS) can play a role in the diagnosis of PE mainly by allowing the visualization of peripheral lung infarctions. Hypoechoic, pleural-based parenchymal consolidation is the most typical and common finding of pulmonary infarction. More than 85% of infarct lesions are wedge-shaped, extending to the pleural surface and are localized to where the patient complains of pleuritic chest pain. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be performed in addition to basic ultrasound examination to ascertain nonvascularization of the consolidation, thus confirming that the lesion is an infarct. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the latest evidence on the application of LUS to the diagnosis of PE, focusing purely on thoracic/lung signs.

Implementing an interprofessional point-of-care ultrasound protocol for dyspneic patients in an emergency department as a blended learning concept-Feasibility of Employing Thoracic Ultrasound in Shortness of Breath

Objective

Dyspnea is a common symptom in the Emergency Department, with a wide variety of differential diagnoses. Previous research has demonstrated the diagnostic accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in this field of interest. Our goal was to better establish sonography in our emergency department with a practicable and time effective method. Therefore, we implemented a sonography protocol in an interprofessional emergency team using blended learning as a modern didactic approach and evaluated the learning and teaching success. We named the study FETUS, which stands for "Feasibility of Employing Thoracic Ultrasound in Shortness of Breath."

Methods

A demonstration of the POCUS protocol was given, followed by individual supervision during clinical routine. A written manual, a pocket card, and further materials for personal training supplemented the training. A post-training questionnaire measured several parameters regarding the training, e.g., subjective skill-acquisition or media use.

Results

32 medical and nursing staff participated in this study, 14 of whom completed the questionnaire. All training modalities offered were well received. A pre-post comparison of subjective sonographic competence shows a significant increase in both medical and nursing staff.The other items surveyed also indicate the success of the intervention undertaken.

Conclusion

The use of different media as a blended learning approach can support the implementation of new measures in the ongoing working routine within an interprofessional team.

Lung ultrasound: are we diagnosing too much?

The clinical use of lung ultrasound (LUS) has made more efficient many diagnostic processes at bedside. The great power of LUS is a superior diagnostic sensitivity in many applications, when compared to chest radiography (CXR). The implementation of LUS in emergency is contributing to reveal a growing number of radio-occult pulmonary conditions. In some diseases, the superior sensitivity of LUS is a great advantage, like for pneumothorax and pulmonary edema. Diagnosing at bedside pneumothoraxes, pulmonary congestions, and COVID-19 pneumonia that are visible by LUS but undetected by CXR may be decisive for appropriate management, and even for saving lives. However, in other conditions, like bacterial pneumonia and small peripheral infarctions due to subsegmental pulmonary embolism, the high sensitivity of LUS does not always lead to advantages. Indeed, we doubt that it is always necessary to treat by antibiotics patients suspected of lower respiratory tract infection, who show radio-occult pulmonary consolidations, and to treat by anticoagulation patients with small subsegmental pulmonary embolism. The possibility that we are overtreating radio-occult conditions should be investigated with dedicated clinical trials.

New International Guidelines and Consensus on the Use of Lung Ultrasound

Following the innovations and new discoveries of the last 10 years in the field of lung ultrasound (LUS), a multidisciplinary panel of international LUS experts from six countries and from different fields (clinical and technical) reviewed and updated the original international consensus for point-of-care LUS, dated 2012. As a result, a total of 20 statements have been produced. Each statement is complemented by guidelines and future developments proposals. The statements are furthermore classified based on their nature as technical (5), clinical (11), educational (3), and safety (1) statements.

Diagnostic Accuracy of V/Q and Q SPECT/CT in Patients with Suspected Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

 Computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography has simplified the diagnostic approach to patients with clinically suspected acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but alternative imaging tests are still advocated. We aimed to systematically assess the diagnostic accuracy of ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) and Q single-photon emission CT combined with low-dose CT (SPECT/CT) for PE diagnosis.

METHODS

 Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT/CT for the diagnosis of acute PE were systematically searched in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (up to August 2022). The QUADAS-2 tool was used for risk-of-bias assessment of the primary studies. A bivariate random-effects regression approach was used for summary estimates of both sensitivity and specificity. The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42021276538.

RESULTS

 Eight studies, for a total of 1,086 patients, were included. The risk of bias of all included studies was high. The weighted mean prevalence of PE was 27.1% at the random-effects model. The SPECT/CT bivariate weighted mean sensitivity was 96% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 93-98%), with a bivariate weighted mean specificity of 95% (95% CI: 90-97%). At subgroup analysis, for V/Q SPECT/CT bivariate weighted mean sensitivity and specificity were 96% (95% CI: 89-98%) and 96% (95% CI: 91-99%), while for Q SPECT/CT they were 96% (95% CI: 92-98%) and 84% (95% CI: 66-93%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

 V/Q SPECT/CT has high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of acute PE, meanwhile Q SPECT/CT has high sensitivity but limited specificity for the diagnosis of PE. Management studies will conclusively ascertain the actual role of SPECT/CT in the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected acute PE.

The Incremental Role of Multiorgan Point-of-Care Ultrasounds in the Emergency Setting

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) represents a goal-directed ultrasound examination performed by clinicians directly involved in patient healthcare. POCUS has been widely used in emergency departments, where US exams allow physicians to make quick diagnoses and to recognize early life-threatening conditions which require prompt interventions. Although initially meant for the real-time evaluation of cardiovascular and respiratory pathologies, its use has been extended to a wide range of clinical applications, such as screening for deep-vein thrombosis and trauma, abdominal ultrasonography of the right upper quadrant and appendix, and guidance for invasive procedures. Moreover, recently, bedside ultrasounds have been used to evaluate the fluid balance and to guide decongestive therapy in acutely decompensated heart failure. The aim of the present review was to discuss the most common applications of POCUS in the emergency setting.

Diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound in a Patient With Malingering and Coccidioidomycosis Infection

We report a case of a 41-year-old male diagnosed with pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and pulmonary embolism (PE) based on a point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) finding who was suspected to be malingering for right-sided chest pain considering his psychiatric history. POCUS was performed and showed right ventricular strain with a D-shaped left ventricle and B-lines with subpleural consolidations, and PE was confirmed with computed tomography pulmonary angiography. No other risk factors for PE were found except for coccidioidomycosis. The patient was treated with apixaban and fluconazole and discharged in stable condition. We discuss the usefulness of POCUS in diagnosing PE and the very rare association between coccidioidomycosis and PE.

A cross-sectional survey on the lung ultrasound training and practice of respiratory therapists in mainland China

Purpose

This national study aimed to investigate the lung ultrasound (LUS) training and practice of respiratory therapists (RTs) in mainland China.

Methods

A cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted from May 22, 2021 to August 12, 2021, through online platforms. This survey included RTs in mainland China. The survey was divided into four sections: (1) demographic characteristics and basic information; (2) basic information about LUS training and practice; (3) LUS practice details; and (4) Other ultrasound training and practice.

Results

A total of 514 responses were received, and 494 valid responses were included in the analysis. 81.2% (401/494) participants’ highest degree of education was a bachelor’s degree, and 43.1% (213/494) participants were at level II in terms of job ranking. 99.2%(490/494) participants agreed that the RTs needed to learn lung ultrasound, but only 12.3% (61/494) participants had received a LUS training course. Further, 66.2% (327/494) experienced participants responded to Sect. 3. Most of RTs used LUS when the patient had hypoxia (265/327, 81%) or dyspnea (260/317, 79.5%); they also used it during spontaneous breathing trial(SBT) (191/327, 58.4%) or in prone position (177/327, 54.1%). The A-line (302/327, 92.4%), B-line (299/327, 91.4%), lung slide (263/327, 80.4%), and bat sign (259/327, 79.2%) were well known as LUS signs. Also, 30.6% (100/327) participants did not use the LUS protocol in their clinical practice, and only 25.4%(83/327) participants said they had used LUS scores. Moreover, 55.7% (182/327) participants frequently changed the respiratory therapy strategy according to LUS results.

Conclusions

We should improve the number and workplace of RTs in mainland China in the future. We should also standardize the application of LUS practice and training for RTs in mainland China and establish corresponding certification pathways.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02213-6.

Pulmonary Embolism Presenting with Pulmonary Infarction: Update and Practical Review of Literature Data

Pulmonary infarction (PI) is a possible consequence of pulmonary embolism (PE). The real incidence of PI could be underestimated considering only non-fatal PE presentation. However, following postmortem examination, the prevalence of PI is considerably higher. This evidence suggests the necessity of proper diagnostic protocol for identifying PI. Unfortunately, PI diagnosis can sometimes be challenging, due to the overlapping of symptoms with other diseases. Nowadays, the diagnosis is mainly based on radiological evaluation, although the combination with emerging imaging techniques such as ultrasound and nuclear scanning might improve the diagnostic algorithm for PI. This review aims to summarize the available data on the prevalence of PI, the main predisposing factors for the development of PI among patients with PE, to resume the possible diagnostic tools, and finally the clinical and prognostic implications.

Retrospective analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasound for pulmonary embolism in patients with and without pleuritic chest pain

Background

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has a role in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) mainly based on the visualization of pulmonary infarctions. However, examining the whole chest to detect small peripheral infarctions by LUS may be challenging. Pleuritic pain, a frequent presenting symptom in patients with PE, is usually localized in a restricted chest area identified by the patient itself. Our hypothesis is that sensitivity of LUS for PE in patients with pleuritic chest pain may be higher due to the possibility of focusing the examination in the painful area. We combined data from three prospective studies on LUS in patients suspected of PE and extracted data regarding patients with and without pleuritic pain at presentation to compare the performances of LUS.

Results

Out of 872 patients suspected of PE, 217 (24.9%) presented with pleuritic pain and 279 patients (32%) were diagnosed with PE. Pooled sensitivity of LUS for PE in patients with and without pleuritic chest pain was 81.5% (95% CI 70–90.1%) and 49.5% (95% CI 42.7–56.4%) (p < 0.001), respectively. Specificity of LUS was similar in the two groups, respectively 95.4% (95% CI 90.7–98.1%) and 94.8% (95% CI 92.3–97.7%) (p = 0.86). In patients with pleuritic pain, a diagnostic strategy combining Wells score with LUS performed better both in terms of sensitivity (93%, 95% CI 80.9–98.5% vs 90.7%, 95% CI 77.9–97.4%) and negative predictive value (96.2%, 95% CI 89.6–98.7% vs 93.3%, 95% CI 84.4–97.3%). Efficiency of Wells score + LUS outperformed the conventional strategy based on Wells score + d-dimer (56.7%, 95% CI 48.5–65% vs 42.5%, 95% CI 34.3–51.2%, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

In a population of patients suspected of PE, LUS showed better sensitivity for the diagnosis of PE when applied to the subgroup with pleuritic chest pain. In these patients, a diagnostic strategy based on Wells score and LUS performed better to exclude PE than the conventional strategy combining Wells score and d-dimer.

Clinical Impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Internal Medicine Inpatients: A Systematic Review

The aim in this systematic review was to determine the effect of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) on the clinical decision-making process and patient outcomes in adults admitted to the general medicine ward. A comprehensive search was performed in MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), PubMed, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, Scopus, LILACS and Cinahl. Articles had to fulfill the inclusion criteria of randomised or non-randomised studies assessing the impact of POCUS on the diagnosis, management, length of hospital stay or mortality of patients admitted to the internal medicine ward. Six studies were included involving a total of 1836 patients. The influence of POCUS on the diagnosis was reported as a change in the main diagnosis or the addition of a relevant diagnosis in up to 18% and 24% of the cases, respectively. Impact on the management plan was reported in 37% to 52.1% of the participants. Three studies documented the impact of POCUS on the length of stay. Two of them reported no difference between groups, and the other reported a significant reduction of 1 d of the hospital stay. In conclusion, POCUS appears to have positive effects on the clinical decision-making process with impacts on optimal patient management and possible reduction in the hospital length of stay.

Multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound for detection of pulmonary embolism in critically ill COVID-19 patients - A diagnostic accuracy study

Purpose

Critically ill COVID-19 patients have an increased risk of developing pulmonary embolism (PE). Diagnosis of PE by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) might reduce the need for computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), while decreasing time-to-diagnosis.

Materials & methods

This prospective, observational study included adult ICU patients with COVID-19. Multi-organ (lungs, deep vein, cardiac) POCUS was performed within 24 h of CTPA, looking for subpleural consolidations, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and right ventricular strain (RVS). We reported the scan time, and calculated diagnostic accuracy measures for these signs separately and in combination.

Results

70 consecutive patients were included. 23 patients (32.8%) had a PE. Median scan time was 14 min (IQR 11–17). Subpleural consolidations' diagnostic accuracy was: 42.9% (95%CI [34.1–52.0]). DVT's and RVS' diagnostic accuracy was: 75.6% (95%CI [67.1–82.9]) and 74.4% (95%CI [65.8–81.8]). Their sensitivity was: 24.0% (95%CI [9.4–45.1]), and 40.0% (95%CI [21.3–61.3]), while their specificity was: 88.8% (95%CI [80.8–94.3]), and: 83.0% (95%CI [74.2–89.8]), respectively. Multi-organ POCUS sensitivity was: 87.5% (95%CI [67.6–97.3]), and specificity was: 25% (95%CI [16.9–34.7]).

Conclusions

Multi-organ rather than single-organ POCUS can be of aid in ruling out PE in critically ill COVID-19 and help select patients for CTPA. In addition, finding RVS can make PE more likely, while a DVT would preclude the need for a CTPA.

Registration: www.trialregister.nl: NL8540.

Diagnostic accuracy of cardiopulmonary ultrasound for pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Cardiopulmonary ultrasound has shown varying results in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism patients around the world. Hence, the current review was done to assess the diagnostic accuracy of cardiopulmonary ultrasound for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism among suspected patients.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search for all studies reporting the diagnostic accuracy of cardiopulmonary ultrasound for pulmonary embolism in the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane library from inception till May 2021. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA software "midas" package.

RESULTS

Ten studies with 4216 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity was 77% (95% CI, 50-92%) and specificity was 99% (95% CI, 97-100%), respectively. The pooled DOR was 382 (95% CI, 77-1883). Pooled LRP was 90 (95% CI, 24-326) and pooled LRN was .23 (.09-.58). There was significant heterogeneity found with the outcome with significant chi-square test and I2 statistic > 75%.

CONCLUSION

Cardiopulmonary ultrasound has the ability to be used as an adjunct to CTPA especially in resource constrained settings. Further reviews comparing multiple non-invasive imaging modalities are required to pick the best tool for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Diagnosis Accuracy of Lung Ultrasound for ARF in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a commonly distressing condition in critically ill patients. Its early recognition and treatment may improve clinical outcomes. Mounting evidence suggests that lung ultrasound (LUS) could be an alternative to chest X-ray (CXR) or computed tomography (CT) for the diagnosis of ARF in critically ill patients. This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether LUS can be an alternative tool used to investigate the cause of ARF or thoracic pathologies associated with the diagnosis of ARF in critically ill patients.

Method: A systematic literature search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted from inception to March 2020. Two researchers independently screened studies investigating the accuracy of LUS with CXR or CT for adult critically ill patients with ARF. Data with baseline, true positives, false positives, false negatives, and true negatives were extracted. The study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were obtained using a bivariate model.

Results: Eleven studies, including 1,232 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Most studies were of low quality. LUS had a pooled sensitivity of 92% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 85–96) and a pooled specificity of 98% (95% CI: 94–99). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 98% (95% CI: 97–99). The sensitivity and specificity of LUS to identify different pathological types of ARF were investigated. For consolidation (1,040 patients), LUS had a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 97%. For pleural effusion (279 patients), LUS had a pooled sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 99%. For acute interstitial syndrome (174 patients), LUS had a pooled sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 91%.

Conclusions: LUS is an adjuvant tool that has a moderate sensitivity and high specificity for the diagnosis of ARF in critically ill patients.

Systematic Review Registration: The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020211493).

Lung Ultrasound Imaging: A Primer for Echocardiographers

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has gained considerable acceptance in emergency and critical care medicine but is yet to be fully implemented in cardiology. Standard imaging protocols for LUS in acute care settings have allowed the rapid and accurate diagnosis of dyspnea, respiratory failure, and shock. LUS is greatly additive to echocardiography and is superior to auscultation and chest radiography, particularly when the diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure is in question. In this review, the authors describe LUS techniques, interpretation, and clinical applications, with the goal of informing cardiologists on the imaging modality. Additionally, the authors review LUS findings associated with various disease states most relevant to cardiac care. Although there is extensive literature on LUS in the acute care setting, there is a dearth of reviews directly focused for practicing cardiologists. Current evidence demonstrates that this modality is an important adjunct to echocardiography, providing valuable clinical information at the bedside.

Pulmonary embolism secondary to deep venous thrombosis: A retrospective and observational study for clinical characteristics and risk stratification

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the risk factors, predilection sites in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients caused by deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and explore the value of scoring systems in assessing the risk of PE in DVT patients.

METHODS

A total of 692 DVT patients were enrolled, and divided into no pulmonary embolism (NPE, 226, 32.66%), silent pulmonary embolism (SPE, 330, 47.67%) and featuring pulmonary embolism (FPE, 136, 19.65%) groups. For each group, the differences of clinical data and PE locations were compared, and the risk factors of PE secondary to DVT were analyzed. The predictive value of the scoring system for the diagnosis of PE and FPE was evaluated.

RESULTS

PE presented more in the bilateral pulmonary arteries (PAs) (249, 53.43%) and has no significant difference in PESI scores in different locations. Gender, DVT locations, and previous surgery were the independent risk factors of PE. DVT locations, previous history of COPD, and previous surgical interventions were the independent risk factors of FPE. The results for areas under the ROC curves were: AUC_(Wells) = 0.675, AUC _{(Revised Geneva)} = 0.601, AUC_(D-dimer) = 0.595 in the PE group; AUC_(Wells) = 0.722, AUC _{(Revised Geneva)} = 0.643, AUC_(D-dimer) = 0.557 in the FPE group.

CONCLUSIONS

PE secondary to DVT mostly occurs in the bilateral PAs. Male gender, DVT locations, and previous surgery increased the risk of PE. The Wells scoring system was more advantageous for evaluating the diagnosis of PE in patients with DVT.

European Respiratory Society statement on thoracic ultrasound

Thoracic ultrasound is increasingly considered to be an essential tool for the pulmonologist. It is used in diverse clinical scenarios, including as an adjunct to clinical decision making for diagnosis, a real-time guide to procedures and a predictor or measurement of treatment response. The aim of this European Respiratory Society task force was to produce a statement on thoracic ultrasound for pulmonologists using thoracic ultrasound within the field of respiratory medicine. The multidisciplinary panel performed a review of the literature, addressing major areas of thoracic ultrasound practice and application. The selected major areas include equipment and technique, assessment of the chest wall, parietal pleura, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, interstitial syndrome, lung consolidation, diaphragm assessment, intervention guidance, training and the patient perspective. Despite the growing evidence supporting the use of thoracic ultrasound, the published literature still contains a paucity of data in some important fields. Key research questions for each of the major areas were identified, which serve to facilitate future multicentre collaborations and research to further consolidate an evidence-based use of thoracic ultrasound, for the benefit of the many patients being exposed to clinicians using thoracic ultrasound.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable bedside diagnostic tool for a variety of expeditious clinical assessments or as guidance for a multitude of acute care procedures. Varying aspects of nearly all organ systems can be evaluated using POCUS and, with the increasing availability of affordable ultrasound systems over the past decade, many now refer to POCUS as the 21^st-century stethoscope. With the current available and growing evidence for the clinical value of POCUS, its utility across the perioperative arena adds enormous benefit to clinical decision-making. Cardiothoracic anesthesiologists routinely have used portable ultrasound systems for nearly as long as the technology has been available, making POCUS applications a natural extension of existing cardiothoracic anesthesia practice. This narrative review presents a broad discussion of the utility of POCUS for the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist in varying perioperative contexts, including the preoperative clinic, the operating room (OR), intensive care unit (ICU), and others. Furthermore, POCUS-related education, competence, and certification are addressed.

Lung Ultrasound Findings in Patients with COVID-19

The current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak leads to a growing need of point-of-care thoracic imaging that is compatible with isolation settings and infection prevention precautions. We retrospectively reviewed 17 COVID-19 patients who received point-of-care lung ultrasound imaging in our isolation unit. Lung ultrasound was able to detect interstitial lung disease effectively; severe cases showed bilaterally distributed B-Lines with or without consolidations; one case showed bilateral pleural plaques. Corresponding to CT scans, interstitial involvement is accurately depicted as B-Lines on lung ultrasound. Lung ultrasound might be suitable for detecting interstitial involvement in a bedside setting under high security isolation precautions.

Diagnostic accuracy of combined thoracic and cardiac sonography for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives

Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the diagnostic standard for pulmonary embolism (PE), but is unavailable in many low resource settings. We evaluated the evidence for point of care ultrasound as an alternative diagnostic.

Methods

Using a PROSPERO-registered, protocol-driven strategy (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, ID = CRD42018099925), we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINHAL for observational and clinical trials of cardiopulmonary ultrasound (CPUS) for PE. We included English-language studies of adult patients with acute breathlessness, reported according to PRISMA guidelines published in the last two decades (January 2000 to February 2020). The primary outcome was diagnostic accuracy of CPUS compared to reference standard CTPA for detection of PE in acutely breathless adults.

Results

We identified 260 unique publications of which twelve met all inclusion criteria. Of these, seven studies (N = 3872) were suitable for inclusion in our meta-analysis for diagnostic accuracy (two using CTPA and five using clinically derived diagnosis criterion). Meta-analysis of data demonstrated that using cardiopulmonary ultrasound (CPUS) was 91% sensitive and 81% specific for pulmonary embolism diagnosis compared to diagnostic standard CTPA. When compared to clinically derived diagnosis criterion, CPUS was 52% sensitive and 92% specific for PE diagnosis. We observed substantial heterogeneity across studies meeting inclusion criteria (I² = 73.5%).

Conclusions

Cardiopulmonary ultrasound may be useful in areas where CTPA is unavailable or unsuitable. Interpretation is limited by study heterogeneity. Further methodologically rigorous studies comparing CPUS and CTPA are important to inform clinical practice.

Recommendations for Lung Ultrasound in Internal Medicine

A growing amount of evidence prompts us to update the first version of recommendations for lung ultrasound in internal medicine (POLLUS-IM) that was published in 2018. The recommendations were established in several stages, consisting of: literature review, assessment of literature data quality (with the application of QUADAS, QUADAS-2 and GRADE criteria) and expert evaluation carried out consistently with the modified Delphi method (three rounds of on-line discussions, followed by a secret ballot by the panel of experts after each completed discussion). Publications to be analyzed were selected from the following databases: Pubmed, Medline, OVID, and Embase. New reports published as of October 2019 were added to the existing POLLUS-IM database used for the original publication of 2018. Altogether, 528 publications were systematically reviewed, including 253 new reports published between September 2017 and October 2019. The new recommendations concern the following conditions and issues: pneumonia, heart failure, monitoring dialyzed patients' hydration status, assessment of pleural effusion, pulmonary embolism and diaphragm function assessment. POLLUS-IM 2020 recommendations were established primarily for clinicians who utilize lung ultrasound in their everyday clinical work.

Utility of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Diagnosing Submassive Pulmonary Thromboembolism in a Trauma Patient and Subsequent Anesthetic Management: Case Report and Literature Review

Point-of-care ultrasonography is defined as ultrasonography brought to the patient's bedside and performed by the provider in real time. The clinician can use these real-time dynamic images immediately (rather than images recorded by a sonographer and interpreted later), allowing findings to be directly correlated with the patient's presenting signs and symptoms. Point-of-care ultrasonography is easily repeatable if the patient's condition changes. Over the past decade, the use of point-of-care ultrasonography has extended to emergency settings and intensive care units. The role of ultrasound in triage patients is not only limited to the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma which includes assessment for hemoperitoneum and hemopericardium, it has also been used to detect the presence of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and intravascular filling status in a trauma patient. However, the use of ultrasonography in detecting pulmonary thromboembolism in trauma has not been commonly reported. We report a patient in whom submassive pulmonary embolism was detected by lung ultrasound and thereafter operated for bilateral open Grade III lower-limb fractures. The surgery was proceeded under bilateral ultrasound-guided femoral sciatic nerve block.

Impact of Bedside Combined Cardiopulmonary Ultrasound on Etiological Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Respiratory Failure in Critically Ill Patients

Aims and objectives

To prospectively evaluate the impact of cardiopulmonary ultrasound (CPUS) on etiological diagnosis and treatment of critically ill acute respiratory failure (ARF) patients.

Design

This is a prospective observational study conducted in a general intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care center in India. Patients over 18 years old with presence of one of the objective criteria of ARF. Patients either consecutively admitted for ARF to ICU or already admitted to ICU for a different reason but later developed ARF during their hospital stay. Written informed consent in local language was obtained from next of kin.

Interventions

All included patients underwent bedside CPUS including lung ultrasound (US) and transthoracic echocardiography plus targeted venous US by single investigator, blinded to clinical data. The US diagnosis of ARF etiology was shared with treating intensivist. Initial clinical diagnosis (ICD) and treatment plan (made before US) of each patient were compared with post-US clinical diagnosis and treatment plan. The changes in diagnosis and treatment up to 24 hours post-US were considered as impact of US.

Results

Mean age of 108 included patients was 45.7 ± 20.4 years (standard deviation). The ICD was correct in 67.5% (73/108) cases, whereas the combined CPUS yielded correct etiological diagnosis in 88% (95/108) cases. Among the 108 included patients, etiological diagnosis of ARF was altered after CPUS in 40 (37%) patients, which included "diagnosis changed" in 18 (17%) and "diagnosis added" in 22 (20%). Treatment plan was changed in 39 (36%) patients after CPUS, which included surgical interventions in 17 (16%), changes in medical therapy in 12 (11%), and changes in ventilation strategy in 4 (3.5%) patients.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that use of combined US approach as an initial test in ARF, improves diagnostic accuracy for identification of underlying etiology, and frequently changes clinical diagnosis and/or treatment.

How to cite this article

Barman B, Parihar A, Kohli N, Agarwal A, Dwivedi DK, Kumari G. Impact of Bedside Combined Cardiopulmonary Ultrasound on Etiological Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Respiratory Failure in Critically Ill Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(11):1062-1070.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Useful Diagnostic Tool in Africa

In resource limited settings with limited tests and diagnostic tools, most of diagnoses are based on clinical findings, and patients are managed empirically, e.g. with anti-tuberculosis drugs. This article aims at describing the use of point-of-care ultrasound in diagnosing the most important conditions in Africa, in addition to clinical work-up. Different protocols exist for the diagnosis of trauma-related disorders, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, thromboembolism, causes of dyspnea, and non- traumatic shock. Point-of-care ultrasound might be a beneficial tool in Africa, aiding diagnostics and management of patients with these conditions. However, studies must be done to assess the impact of point-of-care ultrasound on mortality.

Imaging the Injured Lung: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Use

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) consists of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure characterized by massive and heterogeneously distributed loss of lung aeration caused by diffuse inflammation and edema present in interstitial and alveolar spaces. It is defined by consensus criteria, which include diffuse infiltrates on chest imaging-either plain radiography or computed tomography. This review will summarize how imaging sciences can inform modern respiratory management of ARDS and continue to increase the understanding of the acutely injured lung. This review also describes newer imaging methodologies that are likely to inform future clinical decision-making and potentially improve outcome. For each imaging modality, this review systematically describes the underlying principles, technology involved, measurements obtained, insights gained by the technique, emerging approaches, limitations, and future developments. Finally, integrated approaches are considered whereby multimodal imaging may impact management of ARDS.

The Geriatric Patient: The Ideal One for Chest Ultrasonography? A Review From the Chest Ultrasound in the Elderly Study Group (GRETA) of the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG)

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the current evidence on the use of point-of-care chest ultrasonography in older patients and geriatric settings and present the current state of the art of chest ultrasound applications.

DESIGN

Special article based on a literature review with narrative analyses and expert clinical knowledge.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

All studies performed in a geriatric setting were included. Observational and intervention studies and meta-analyses including participants aged ≥70 years were also considered, even if not specifically focused on a geriatric setting.

MEASURES

Data on participant characteristics, diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasonography, and outcomes were collected for each considered study. Data were analyzed and discussed with a particular focus on the possible applications and advantages of chest ultrasonography in geriatric medicine, underlining the possible areas of future research.

RESULTS

We found only 5 studies on the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic relevance of chest ultrasonography in geriatrics. However, several studies performed in emergency departments, intensive care units, and internal medicine wards included a large number of participants ≥70 years old; they suggest that chest ultrasonography may represent a valid aid to the diagnostics of acute dyspnea, pneumonia, acute heart failure, pneumothorax, and pleural diseases, with an accuracy in some cases superior to standard x-rays, especially when mobility limitation is present. Diaphragm ultrasonography may also represent a valid tool to guide mechanical ventilation weaning in older patients with acute respiratory failure.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Chest ultrasonography may represent a valid bedside diagnostic aid to the management of acute respiratory diseases in older patients. However, specific evidence is lacking for geriatric patients. Future research will need to focus on defining the reference standards and the diagnostic accuracy for older patients with frailty and multimorbidity, cost-efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the technique, its impact for clinical outcomes, and role for follow-up in the post-acute care.

Relevance of lung ultrasound in the diagnostic algorithm of respiratory diseases in a real-life setting: A multicentre prospective study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in a diagnostic algorithm of respiratory diseases, and to establish the accuracy of LUS compared with chest radiography (CXR).

METHODS

Over a period of 2 years, 509 consecutive patients admitted for respiratory-related symptoms to both emergency and general medicine wards were enrolled and evaluated using LUS and CXR. LUS was conducted by expert operators who were blinded to the medical history and laboratory data. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest was performed in case of discordance between the CXR and LUS, suspected lung cancer and an inconclusive diagnosis. Diagnosis made by CT was considered the gold standard.

RESULTS

The difference in sensitivity and specificity between LUS and CXR as demonstrated by ROC curve analyses (LUS-AUROC: 0.853; specificity: 81.6%; sensitivity: 93.9% vs CXR-AUROC: 0.763; specificity: 57.4%; sensitivity: 96.3%) was significant (P = 0.001). Final diagnosis included 240 cases (47.2%) of pneumonia, 44 patients with cancer (8.6%), 20 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 3.9%), 24 patients with heart failure (4.7%) and others (6.1%). In 108 patients (21.2%) with any lung pathology, a CT scan was performed with a positive diagnosis in 96 cases (88.9%); we found that CXR and LUS detected no abnormality in 24 (25%) and 5 (5.2%) cases, respectively. LUS was concordant with the final diagnosis (P < 0.0001), and in healthy patients, there was a low percentage of false positives (5.9%).

CONCLUSION

The results support the routine use of LUS in the clinical context.

Assessment of dyspneic patients in the emergency department using point-of-care lung and cardiac ultrasonography-a prospective observational study

Background

Lung ultrasonography is increasingly used in the emergency department (ED) as a standard adjunct in the evaluation of the breathless patient. The study objective was to ascertain the diagnostic accuracy of lung and cardiac ultrasound in undifferentiated dyspneic ED patients.

Methods

We conducted this prospective observational study on patients presenting with dyspnea in the ED of a tertiary hospital. The sonographers who performed lung and cardiac ultrasound according to a locally-designed protocol were blinded to clinical and radiologic results. Ultrasonographic findings were subsequently compared with the final adjudicated diagnoses.

Results

Between February and August 2015, 231 patients were recruited. There was male predominance (63.2%) with a mean age of 67.8 years. Overall, lung ultrasonography yielded correct diagnoses in 68.3% of patients. Our protocol had likelihood ratios of 3.63 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.44-5.40], 3.73 (95% CI: 2.50-5.57) and 6.31 (95% CI: 3.72-10.72) for positive findings; and 0.42 (95% CI: 0.29-0.63), 0.35 (95% CI: 0.25-0.50), and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.28-0.56) for negative findings in the diagnoses of pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma, respectively. Addition of bedside echocardiography was able to differentiate cardiogenic from nephrogenic pulmonary edema in 70% of patients.

Conclusions

Lung ultrasonography, when complemented with other tools of investigation, aids evaluation, allows for earlier treatment and more accurate disposition of undifferentiated dyspneic patients in the ED. The addition of cardiac ultrasound was not able to reliably differentiate the causes of pulmonary edema.

When appearances deceive: Echocardiographic changes due to common chest pathology

Most indications for performing echocardiography focus on the evaluation of properties intrinsic to the heart. However, numerous extra-cardiac conditions indirectly convey changes to the echocardiographic appearance through alterations in the governing physiology. Pulmonary embolism increases pulmonary arterial pressure if a sufficient cross-sectional area of the pulmonary vascular bed is occluded. This may result in dilatation of the right ventricle and, in severe cases, concomitant early diastolic septal collapse into the left ventricle. Acute respiratory failure has been shown to yield a similar echocardiographic appearance in experimental conditions due to the resultant pulmonary vasoconstriction. Echocardiography in the presence of pulmonary disease can reveal underlying cardiac pathologies such as pulmonary hypertension that contribute to the clinical severity of respiratory distress. Positive pressure ventilation affects preload, afterload, and compliance of both ventricles. The echocardiographic net result cannot be uniformly anticipated, but provides information on the deciding physiology or pathophysiology. Mediastinal pathology including tumors, herniation of abdominal content, and pleural effusion can often be visualized directly with echocardiography. Mediastinal pathologies adjacent to the heart may compress the myocardium directly, thus facilitating echocardiographic and clinical signs of tamponade in the absence of pericardial effusion. In conclusion, many pathologies of extra-cardiac origin influence the echocardiographic appearance of the heart. These changes do not reflect properties of the myocardium but may well be mistaken for it. Hence, these conditions are essential knowledge to all physicians performing echocardiography across the spectrum from advanced cardiological diagnostics to rapid point-of-care focused cardiac ultrasonography.

Diagnostic chest ultrasound for acute respiratory failure

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common life-threatening medical condition, with multiple underlying aetiologies. Diagnostic chest ultrasound provides accurate diagnosis of conditions that commonly cause ARF, and may improve overall diagnostic accuracy in critical care settings as compared to standard diagnostic approaches. Respiratory physicians are becoming increasingly familiar with ultrasound as a part of routine clinical practice, although the majority of data to date has focused on the emergency and intensive care settings. This review will examine the evidence for the use of diagnostic chest ultrasound, focusing on different levels of imaging efficacy; specifically ultrasound test attributes, impacts on clinician behaviour and impact on health outcomes. The evidence behind use of multi-modality ultrasound examinations in ARF will be reviewed. It is hoped that readers will become familiar with the advantages and potential issues with chest ultrasound, as well as evidence gaps in the field.

Prehospital point-of-care emergency ultrasound: a cohort study

Background

In the prehospital situation, the diagnostic armamentarium available to the rescue physician is limited. Emergency ultrasound has proven to be a useful diagnostic tool, providing crucial information for the management of critically ill and injured patients. The proportion of performed ultrasound scans in all patients attended to by the rescue service team, the quality of the findings and the ultrasound-related changes in management approach and patient transport were evaluated.

Methods

In this prospective 18-month observational study, we documented all missions performed by rescue physicians with special training in emergency ultrasound (expert standard). These data were than analysed with regard to the ultrasound examinations. The ultrasound protocols used comprised Focussed Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST), Prehospital Lung Ultrasound (PLUS) and Focused Echocardiography in Emergency Life support (FEEL). The quality of prehospital examinations was assessed by comparing the findings and diagnoses at the emergency site with those established in hospital. The changes in patient management and transport were documented using a standardized protocol.

Results

A total of 99 (18.1%) emergency ultrasound examinations were performed during 546 callouts. The most common indications for prehospital emergency ultrasound were dyspnoea (n = 38; 38.4%), during cardiac arrest (n = 17/17.2%), fall (n = 12/12.1%) and high-speed trauma (n = 11/11.1%). The combinations of ultrasound examination protocols in the trauma group (n = 31; 31.3%) were: 1. FAST+FEEL+PLUS (n = 17; 54.8%). 2. FAST+PLUS (n = 11; 35.5%) 3. FAST alone (n = 3; 9.7%). In the non-trauma group (n = 68; 68.7%), the following combinations were used: 1. FEEL+PLUS (n = 36; 52.9%), 2. FEEL alone (n = 21/30.9%). 3. PLUS alone (n = 6/8.8%) 4. FAST alone (n = 2; 2.9%) 5. FAST+FEEL+PLUS (n = 2; 2.9%). 6. FAST+FEEL (n = 1/1.5%). The emergency ultrasound findings impaired left ventricular contractile function (sensitivity 89.4%), right ventricular stress (85.7%), lung interstitial syndrome (100%), ruling out pneumothorax (specificity 100%), ruling out intraabdominal fluid (97,1%) were verified at the receiving hospital using ultrasonography, CT scan or x-rays; the prehospital diagnosis was confirmed in 90.8% of cases, the difference between the prehospital and in-hospital findings were not significant(p-values from p = 0.688 to p = 0,99). Ultrasound-related changes in patient management occurred in 49.5% of patients; in 33.3%, these were transported-related.

Conclusions

Emergency ultrasound was as often used in the prehospital situation as it is in hospital. The ultrasound findings correlated well with in-hospital diagnostic results. Significant pathology changed patient-management, without prolonging the mission time.

Review article: Investigations and the pregnant woman in the emergency department - part 2: Point-of-care ultrasound, electrocardiography, respiratory function tests and radiology

Accurate assessment of the pregnant patient in the ED depends on knowledge of physiological changes in pregnancy, and how these changes may impact on pathology tests, appearance on point-of-care ultrasound, electrocardiography and respiratory function tests. In addition, the emergency physician needs to be cognisant of disorders that are unique to or more common during pregnancy. Part 2 of this review addresses the role of point-of-care ultrasound in pregnancy, physiological changes that may affect interpretation of point-of-care ultrasound, changes in electrocardiography and respiratory function tests, and the safety of radiological procedures in the pregnant patient. Part 1 addressed potential deviations in laboratory investigation reference intervals resulting from physiological alterations in pregnancy and the important causes of abnormal laboratory results in pregnancy.

Polish recommendations for lung ultrasound in internal medicine (POLLUS-IM)

The aim of this study was to establish recommendations for the use of lung ultrasound in internal medicine, based on reliable data and expert opinions. Methods: The bibliography from the databases (Pubmed, Medline, OVID, Embase) has been fully reviewed up to August 2017. Members of the expert group assessed the credibility of the literature data. Then, in three rounds, a discussion was held on individual recommendations (in accordance with the Delphi procedure) followed by secret voting. Thirty-eight recommendations for the use of lung ultrasound in internal medicine were established as well as discussed and subjected to secret voting in three rounds. The first 31 recommendations concerned the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of the following conditions: pneumothorax, pulmonary consolidation, pneumonia, atelectasis, pulmonary embolism, malignant neoplastic lesions, interstitial lung lesions, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, interstitial lung diseases with fibrosis, dyspnea, pleural pain and acute cough. Furthermore, seven additional statements were made regarding the technical conditions of lung ultrasound examination and the need for training in the basics of lung ultrasound in a group of doctors during their specialization programs and medical students. The panel of experts established a consensus on all 38 recommendations.

The efficacy of bedside chest ultrasound: from accuracy to outcomes

For many respiratory physicians, point-of-care chest ultrasound is now an integral part of clinical practice. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound to detect abnormalities of the pleura, the lung parenchyma and the thoracic musculoskeletal system is well described. However, the efficacy of a test extends beyond just diagnostic accuracy. The true value of a test depends on the degree to which diagnostic accuracy efficacy influences decision-making efficacy, and the subsequent extent to which this impacts health outcome efficacy. We therefore reviewed the demonstrable levels of test efficacy for bedside ultrasound of the pleura, lung parenchyma and thoracic musculoskeletal system.For bedside ultrasound of the pleura, there is evidence supporting diagnostic accuracy efficacy, decision-making efficacy and health outcome efficacy, predominantly in guiding pleural interventions. For the lung parenchyma, chest ultrasound has an impact on diagnostic accuracy and decision-making for patients presenting with acute respiratory failure or breathlessness, but there are no data as yet on actual health outcomes. For ultrasound of the thoracic musculoskeletal system, there is robust evidence only for diagnostic accuracy efficacy.We therefore outline avenues to further validate bedside chest ultrasound beyond diagnostic accuracy, with an emphasis on confirming enhanced health outcomes.

Ultrasound-guided Lung Biopsy in the Hands of Respiratory Physicians: Diagnostic Yield and Complications in 215 Consecutive Patients in 3 Centers

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic yield and prevalence of complications of ultrasound-guided transthoracic needle aspiration biopsies (US-TTNAB) performed by respiratory physicians after implementation of the procedure in an everyday clinical setting at 3 different centers.

METHODS

Patients were included if they during the period from January 2012 to August 2014 had a registered US-TTNAB procedure code or if a US biopsy registration form had been filled out at either of the participating centers. Histology or cytology results were used as a reference test for diagnoses that could be made based on these results. Reference test for the remaining diagnoses was clinical follow-up. The diagnostic yield of US-TTNAB was defined as the proportion of patients in which the result of the US-TTNAB was consistent with the reference test.

RESULTS

A total of 215 patients in which a primary US-TTNAB had been performed were identified. The most common biopsy sites were lungs and pleurae with a total of 164 (76.3%) patients and 31 patients (14.4%), respectively. US-TTNAB diagnostic yield was 76.9% (95% CI, 70.3%-83.4%) for malignant diagnoses and 47.6% (95% CI, 31.9%-63.4%) for nonmalignant diagnoses. The most common complications of US-TTNAB were pneumothorax (2.5%; 95% CI, 0.03%-4.6%) and pain at the biopsy site (2%; 95% CI, 0.04%-3.9%). No fatalities related to US-TTNAB were observed.

CONCLUSION

US-TTNAB performed by respiratory physicians is a safe procedure with a low risk of complications and the diagnostic yield to establish a malignant diagnosis is acceptable.

Abdominal pain as pulmonary embolism presentation, usefulness of bedside ultrasound: a report of two cases

It is well known that a number of patients affected by hemodynamic stable pulmonary embolism are admitted to the emergency department presenting chest pain without further symptoms of pulmonary embolism, such as dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, syncope, and tachycardia, but in a few cases, the presenting symptoms are even more unusual. The gold standard for pulmonary embolism diagnosis is computed tomography pulmonary angiogram resulting in significant exposure to ionizing radiation and contrast, but recently bedside ultrasound has shown to be useful in diagnosing pulmonary embolism in the emergency department. We describe two cases of pulmonary embolism in young men evaluated in the emergency department for acute pain of the upper abdomen, preliminarily diagnosed as abdominal colic, in which bedside ultrasound ruled out abdominal diseases and showed basal pulmonary abnormalities consistent with infarction, suggesting the need of diagnostic completion with computed tomography pulmonary angiogram. Bedside ultrasound was useful as complementary imaging test in diagnosing pulmonary embolism in young patients admitted for abdominal pain of unknown origin.

Diagnostic Performance of Wells Score Combined With Point-of-care Lung and Venous Ultrasound in Suspected Pulmonary Embolism

OBJECTIVE

Lung and venous ultrasound are bedside diagnostic tools increasingly used in the early diagnostic approach of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the possibility of improving the conventional prediction rule for PE by integrating ultrasound has never been investigated.

METHODS

We performed lung and venous ultrasound in consecutive patients suspected of PE in four emergency departments. Conventional Wells score (Ws) was adjudicated by the attending physician, and ultrasound was performed by one of 20 investigators. Signs of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) at venous ultrasound and signs of pulmonary infarcts or alternative diagnoses at lung ultrasound were considered to recalculate two items of the Ws: signs and symptoms of DVT and alternative diagnosis less likely than PE. The diagnostic performances of the ultrasound-enhanced Ws (USWs) and Ws were then compared after confirmation of the final diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 446 patients were studied. PE was confirmed in 125 patients (28%). USWs performed significantly better than Ws, with a sensitivity of 69.6% versus 57.6% and a specificity of 88.2% versus 68.2%. In combination with D-dimer, USWs showed an optimal failure rate (0.8%) and a significantly superior efficiency than Ws (32.3% vs. 27.2%). A strategy based on lung and venous ultrasound combined with D-dimer would allow to avoid CT pulmonary angiography in 50.5% of patients with suspected PE, compared to 27.2% when the rule without ultrasound is applied.

CONCLUSIONS

A pretest risk stratification enhanced by ultrasound of lung and venous performs better than Ws in the early diagnostic process of PE.

Thoracic Ultrasound: What Non-radiologists Need to Know

Purpose of review

The aim of this review is to provide the theoretical and practical knowledge essential for non-radiologists to develop the skills necessary to apply thoracic ultrasound as an extension of clinical assessment and intervention.

Recent findings

Issues relating to training and competence are discussed and a library of thoracic ultrasound videos is provided to illustrate artefacts, pleural, parenchymal and pneumothorax pathology as well as important pitfalls to consider. Novel and future diagnostic applications of thoracic ultrasound in the setting of acute cardiorespiratory pathology including consolidation, acute interstitial syndromes and pulmonary embolism are explored.

Summary

Thoracic ultrasound requires an understanding of imaging artefact specific to lung and pleura and a working knowledge of machine knobology for image optimisation and interpretation. Ultrasound is a valuable tool for the practicing chest clinician providing diagnostic information for the assessment of pleural and parenchymal disease and increased safety and cost effectiveness of thoracic interventions.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13665-017-0164-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Thoracic Ultrasound: Technique, Applications, and Interpretation

Thoracic ultrasound is used at the bedside in emergency and critical care settings. Advantages of ultrasound include rapid real-time, low-cost, diagnostic information that can direct patient care without the use of ionizing radiation. We describe methods on how to perform lung ultrasound, with the intent to educate the radiologist who might otherwise be relatively unfamiliar with thoracic sonography. We describe and depict the normal sonographic appearance of lung anatomy. We also show the sonographic appearance of a wide range of lung and pleural pathologies such as pneumonia, pneumothorax, as well as lung and pleural masses. We review various lines and signs described in the literature, such as A-lines, B-lines, the stratosphere sign, and the bat-wing sign. Finally, we correlate our findings with chest x-ray and computerized tomography to emphasize the anatomy.

Clinically integrated multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound for undifferentiated respiratory difficulty, chest pain, or shock: a critical analytic review

Rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment are paramount in the management of the critically ill. Critical care ultrasound has been widely used as an adjunct to standard clinical examination, an invaluable extension of physical examination to guide clinical decision-making at bedside. Recently, there is growing interest in the use of multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound (MOPOCUS) for the management of the critically ill, especially in the early phase of resuscitation. This article will review the role and utility of symptom-based and sign-oriented MOPOCUS in patients with undifferentiated respiratory difficulty, chest pain, or shock and how it can be performed in a timely, effective, and efficient manner.

Emergency Thoracic US: The Essentials

Acute thoracic symptoms are common among adults visiting emergency departments in the United States. Adults with these symptoms constitute a large burden on the overall resources used in the emergency department. The wide range of possible causes can make a definitive diagnosis challenging, even after clinical evaluation and initial laboratory testing. In addition to radiography and computed tomography, thoracic ultrasonography (US) is an alternative imaging modality that can be readily performed in real time at the patient's bedside to help diagnose many thoracic diseases manifesting acutely and in the trauma setting. Advantages of US include availability, relatively low cost, and lack of ionizing radiation. Emergency thoracic US consists of two main parts, lung and pleura US and focused cardiac US, which are closely related. Acoustic mismatches among aerated lungs, pleura, chest wall, and pathologic conditions produce artifacts useful for diagnosis of pneumothorax and pulmonary edema and help in detection of subpleural, pleural, and chest wall pathologic conditions such as pneumonia, pleural effusion, and fractures. Visual assessment of cardiac contractility and detection of right ventricular dilatation and pericardial effusion at focused cardiac US are critical in patients presenting with acute dyspnea and trauma. Additional US examinations of the inferior vena cava for noninvasive volume assessment and of the groin areas for detection of deep venous thrombosis are often performed at the same time. This multiorgan US approach can provide valuable information for emergency treatment of both traumatic and nontraumatic thoracic diseases involving the lungs, pleura, chest wall, heart, and vascular system. Online supplemental material is available for this article. (©)RSNA, 2016.