open access

Vol 5, No 3 (2020)
Research paper
Published online: 2020-09-17
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Point-of-Care Emergency Ultrasonography in Non-Traumatic Cardiac Arrest and Near-Arrest Emergency Patients; A Pilot Trial

Betul Gulalp1, Togay Evrin2, Funda Karbek Akarca3, Aslıhan Yuruktumen Unal4, Mustafa Sabak5, Betul Akbuga Ozel6, Mustafa Emin Canakcı7, Nurdan Acar Ergun7, Ozlem Karagun1, Veyis Tasın1, Hasan Yesilagac1
·
Disaster Emerg Med J 2020;5(3):150-158.
Affiliations
  1. Baskent University, Adana Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey
  2. Ufuk University, Ankara, Turkey
  3. Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
  4. Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
  5. Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
  6. Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
  7. Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey

open access

Vol 5, No 3 (2020)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Published online: 2020-09-17

Abstract

Background: In this study, we evaluated the applicability and interpretation of point-of-care emergency ultrasound (POCEUS) performed by an emergency physician (EP) in non-traumatic adult cardiac arrest and near-arrest patients at presentation to the Emergency Department (ED).

Methods: POCEUS was performed in 5 steps on 73 adults to assess; 1. Qualitative global cardiac function, cardiac chambers and presence of pericardial effusion; 2. Presence of pleural sliding, B-lines, A-lines or consolidation on anterior-superior; 3. Presence of an abdominal aorta aneurysm and pelvic free fluid; 4. Presence of pleural effusion, consolidation, free fluid on lateral-inferior; 5. Qualitative width and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava. A fulfilled checklist and real-time images of ultrasonography were sent by WhatsApp to the head of the study to generate the evidence and collect the data. The process of patient care, in-hospital diagnosis and survival were retrieved from digital hospital records. This prospective multicenter sample study was conducted from November 16, 2015, to January 5, 2016.

Results: The most common findings of POCEUS were performed and interpreted to have a first prediction of patients’ acute clinic problem by EPs were compatible with global systolic dysfunction (n = 16, 22.9%), pulmonary edema (n = 17, 23.3%), pulmonary embolus (n = 6, 8.2%), distributive/hypovolemic shock (n = 12, 16.4%), cardiac tamponade or pericardial effusion (n = 5, 6.8%), and pneumonia (n = 31, 42.5%) at presentation. The kappa correlation coefficient value of the POCEUS at presentation versus the final, traditional clinical diagnosis of the admitted ward, was 0.773 (95% CI, 0.747–0.892; p = 0.064, McNemar).

Conclusions: POCEUS performed by an EP at presentation had a good agreement between in qualitative prediction of the first differential diagnosis in life-threatened patients and the last diagnosis obtained during hospitalization. Furthermore, this study showed the requirement of evidence in comparison of measurements to the qualitative manner and new descriptive processes in POCEUS for unexplained situations and questions.

Abstract

Background: In this study, we evaluated the applicability and interpretation of point-of-care emergency ultrasound (POCEUS) performed by an emergency physician (EP) in non-traumatic adult cardiac arrest and near-arrest patients at presentation to the Emergency Department (ED).

Methods: POCEUS was performed in 5 steps on 73 adults to assess; 1. Qualitative global cardiac function, cardiac chambers and presence of pericardial effusion; 2. Presence of pleural sliding, B-lines, A-lines or consolidation on anterior-superior; 3. Presence of an abdominal aorta aneurysm and pelvic free fluid; 4. Presence of pleural effusion, consolidation, free fluid on lateral-inferior; 5. Qualitative width and collapsibility of the inferior vena cava. A fulfilled checklist and real-time images of ultrasonography were sent by WhatsApp to the head of the study to generate the evidence and collect the data. The process of patient care, in-hospital diagnosis and survival were retrieved from digital hospital records. This prospective multicenter sample study was conducted from November 16, 2015, to January 5, 2016.

Results: The most common findings of POCEUS were performed and interpreted to have a first prediction of patients’ acute clinic problem by EPs were compatible with global systolic dysfunction (n = 16, 22.9%), pulmonary edema (n = 17, 23.3%), pulmonary embolus (n = 6, 8.2%), distributive/hypovolemic shock (n = 12, 16.4%), cardiac tamponade or pericardial effusion (n = 5, 6.8%), and pneumonia (n = 31, 42.5%) at presentation. The kappa correlation coefficient value of the POCEUS at presentation versus the final, traditional clinical diagnosis of the admitted ward, was 0.773 (95% CI, 0.747–0.892; p = 0.064, McNemar).

Conclusions: POCEUS performed by an EP at presentation had a good agreement between in qualitative prediction of the first differential diagnosis in life-threatened patients and the last diagnosis obtained during hospitalization. Furthermore, this study showed the requirement of evidence in comparison of measurements to the qualitative manner and new descriptive processes in POCEUS for unexplained situations and questions.

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Keywords

cardiopulmonary arrest, near-arrest, emergency patient, point-of-care emergency ultrasound

About this article
Title

Point-of-Care Emergency Ultrasonography in Non-Traumatic Cardiac Arrest and Near-Arrest Emergency Patients; A Pilot Trial

Journal

Disaster and Emergency Medicine Journal

Issue

Vol 5, No 3 (2020)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

150-158

Published online

2020-09-17

Page views

559

Article views/downloads

534

DOI

10.5603/DEMJ.a2020.0032

Bibliographic record

Disaster Emerg Med J 2020;5(3):150-158.

Keywords

cardiopulmonary arrest
near-arrest
emergency patient
point-of-care emergency ultrasound

Authors

Betul Gulalp
Togay Evrin
Funda Karbek Akarca
Aslıhan Yuruktumen Unal
Mustafa Sabak
Betul Akbuga Ozel
Mustafa Emin Canakcı
Nurdan Acar Ergun
Ozlem Karagun
Veyis Tasın
Hasan Yesilagac

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