Point-of-care focused lung ultrasound in emergency medicine: Protocol for a scoping review

Baggrund Point-of-care fokuseret lungeultralyd er en central kompetence i akutmedicin. Meta-analyser for diagnostiske studier af point-of-care fokuseret lungeultralyd har vist lovende diagnostiske resultater for pneumothorax, pleura effusion, interstitielt syndrom, lungeemboli og pneumoni. Men manglende evidens på patient-nære endemål og et fåtal af randomiserede kontrollerede studier synes at være begrænsende for den videre implementering af point-of-care ultralyd. En metodisk kortlægning af eksisterende studier indenfor et forskningsfelt kan vejlede fremtidige forskningsindsatser. Formålet med dette review er at give et overblik over original forskning i point-of-care fokuseret lungeultralyd i akutmedicin med særlig vægt på studiedesign og patient-relevansen af endemål. Metoder Reviewet designes som et scoping review og det vil inkludere originale studier i point-of-care fokuseret lungeultralyd til voksne patienter i akutafdelinger. Reviewet vil fokusere på point-of-care fokuseret lungeultralyd; studier i fyldestgørende thorakal ultralyd er uden for denne afgrænsning (f.eks. ultralydsundersøgelser som vurderer mediastinale lymfeknuder, diafragma bevægelse, kontrast- eller procedure lunge ultralyd). Vi vil ekskludere studier uden tilgængeligt engelsk manuskript. Grå litteratur og udelukkende kvalitative studier vil ikke blive inkluderet. Reviews, protokoller, meta-analyser, case artikler, letters, og konference abstrakts vil blive ekskluderet. Dataudtrækket vil inkludere adskillige metodiske og sonografiske karakteristika (f.eks. sampling metoden [lejlighedsvis/fortløbende], diagnostisk rolle af ultralyd [triage, tillæg, erstatning], antal af sonografører, sonograførernes ekspertise [træning og erfaring] og sonograførernes rolle [behandlende læge eller forsker]. Den narrative syntese af alle inkluderede studier vil blive gennemført med særlig vægt på studie designs og patient-relevans af endemål. Figurer og diagrammer vil opsummere tidsmæssige tendenser, metode karakteristika og endemål. Diskussion Dette scoping review vil tilbyde et overblik som systematiske reviews ikke kan sammenfatte eller kortlægge. Kortlægningen af studie designs og patient-relevans af endemål vil vejlede fremtidige studier og systematiske reviews i forsøget på at vejlede klinikere og patienter til den mest hensigtsmæssige brug af point-of-care fokuseret lungeultralyd i akutmedicin. Reviewet vil også biddrage med et overblik over område-specifikke metodiske og sonografiske karakteristika, som gør det muligt for andre forskere at identificere de utilstrækkeligheder, som bør opgives, og de fremskridt som bør dyrkes

The Area method: a new method for ultrasound assessment of diaphragmatic movement

Abstract Background Ultrasound can be used to assess diaphragm movement. Existing methods focus on movement at a single point at the hemidiaphragm and may not consider the anatomic and functional complexity. We aimed to develop an ultrasound method, the Area method, to assess movement of the entire hemidiaphragm dome and to compare it with existing methods to evaluate accuracy, inter-rater agreement, and feasibility. Methods Movement of the diaphragm was evaluated by ultrasonography in 19 healthy subjects and correlated with simultaneously performed spirometry. Two existing methods, the M-mode excursion at the posterior part of diaphragm and the B-mode at the top of the diaphragm, were compared with the Area method. Two independent raters reviewed film clips to analyze inter-rater agreement. Feasibility was tested by novice ultrasound operators. Results Correlation with expired lung volume was higher with the Area method, 0.88 (95% CI 0.81–0.95), p < 0.001, and with the M-mode measurement, 0.84 (95% CI 0.75–0.92), p < 0.001, than with the B-mode measurement, 0.71 (95% CI 0.59–0.83), p < 0.001. Inter-rater agreement was highest with the Area method, 0.9, p < 0.001, and M-mode measurement 0.9, p < 0.001, and lower with the B-mode measurement, 0.8, p < 0.001. The M-mode measurement could be done in only 20% at the left side. The Area method could be performed in all participants at both hemidiaphragms, and novice operators found it easy to perform. Conclusion A new method to evaluate diaphragm movement is introduced. Accuracy and inter-rater agreement are high. The Area method is equally feasible at both hemidiaphragms in contrast to existing methods. However, additional studies should include more participants, different types of pulmonary diseases, and investigate the role of patient position to validate the Area method fully

The effect of focused lung ultrasonography on antibiotic prescribing in patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections in Danish general practice:study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (PLUS-FLUS)

Background: The use of antibiotics is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance and is considered a major threat to global health. In Denmark, approximately 75% of antibiotic prescriptions are issued in general practice, with acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) being one of the most common indications. Adults who present to general practice with symptoms of acute LRTI often suffer from self-limiting viral infections. However, some patients have bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), a potential life-threatening infection, that requires immediate antibiotic treatment. Importantly, no single symptom or specific point-of-care test can be used to discriminate the various diagnoses, and diagnostic uncertainty often leads to (over)use of antibiotics. At present, general practitioners (GPs) lack tools to better identify those patients who will benefit from antibiotic treatment. The primary aim of the PLUS-FLUS trial is to determine whether adults who present with symptoms of an acute LRTI in general practice and who have FLUS performed in addition to usual care are treated less frequently with antibiotics than those who only receive usual care. Methods: Adults (≥ 18 years) presenting to general practice with acute cough (&lt; 21 days) and at least one other symptom of acute LRTI, where the GP suspects a bacterial CAP, will be invited to participate in this pragmatic randomized controlled trial. All participants will receive usual care. Subsequently, participants will be randomized to either the control group (usual care) or to an additional focused lung ultrasonography performed by the GP (+ FLUS). The primary outcome is the proportion of participants with antibiotics prescribed at the index consultation (day 0). Secondary outcomes include comparisons of the clinical course for participants in groups. Discussion: We will examine whether adults who present with symptoms of acute LRTI in general practice, who have FLUS performed in addition to usual care, have antibiotics prescribed less frequently than those given usual care alone. It is highly important that a possible reduction in antibiotic prescriptions does not compromise patients’ recovery or clinical course, which we will assess closely. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06210282. Registered on January 17, 2024.</p

Standard vs. targeted oxygen therapy prehospitally for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (STOP-COPD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background A high concentration of inspired supplemental oxygen may possibly cause hypercapnia and acidosis and increase mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Even so, patients with AECOPD are being treated with high oxygen flow rates when receiving inhalation drugs in the prehospital setting. A cluster-randomised controlled trial found that reduced oxygen delivery by titrated treatment reduced mortality—a result supported by observational studies—but the results have never been reproduced. In the STOP-COPD trial, we investigate the effect of titrated oxygen delivery compared with usual care consisting of high flow oxygen delivery in patients with AECOPD in the prehospital setting. Methods In this randomised controlled trial, patients will be blinded to allocation. Patients with suspected AECOPD (n = 1888) attended by the emergency medical service (EMS) and aged > 40 years will be allocated randomly to either standard treatment or titrated oxygen, targeting a blood oxygen saturation of 88–92% during inhalation therapy. The trial will be conducted in the Central Denmark Region and include all ambulance units. The power to detect a 3% 30-day mortality risk difference is 80%. The trial is approved as an emergency trial. Hence, EMS providers will include patients without prior consent. Discussion The results will provide evidence on whether titrated oxygen delivery outperforms standard high flow oxygen when used to nebulise inhaled bronchodilators in AECOPD treatment. The trial is designed to ensure unselected inclusion of patients with AECOPD needing nebulised bronchodilators—a group of patients that receives high oxygen fractions when treated in the prehospital setting where the only compressed gas is generally pure oxygen. Conducting this trial, we aim to improve treatment for people with AECOPD while reducing their 30-day mortality. Trial registration European Union Clinical Trials (EUCT) number: 2022-502003-30-00 (authorised 06/12/2022), ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT05703919 (released 02/02/2023), Universal trial number: U1111-1278-2162

Additional file 1 of Standard vs. targeted oxygen therapy prehospitally for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (STOP-COPD): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Additional file 1