Abstract Objectives Despite emerging evidences on the clinical usefulness of lung ultrasound (LUS), international guidelines still do not recommend the use of sonography for the diagnosis of ...pneumonia. Our study assesses the accuracy of LUS for the diagnosis of lung consolidations when compared to chest computed tomography (CT). Methods This was a prospective study on an emergency department population complaining of respiratory symptoms of unexplained origin. All patients who had a chest CT scan performed for clinical reasons were consecutively recruited. LUS was targeted to evaluate lung consolidations with the morphologic characteristics of pneumonia, and then compared to CT. Results We analyzed 285 patients. CT was positive for at least one consolidation in 87 patients. LUS was feasible in all patients and in 81 showed at least one consolidation, with a good inter-observer agreement ( k = 0.83), sensitivity 82.8% (95% CI 73.2%-90%) and specificity 95.5% (95% CI 91.5%-97.9%). Sensitivity raised to 91.7% (95% CI 61.5%-98.6%) and specificity to 97.4% (95% CI 86.5%-99.6%) in patients complaining of pleuritic chest pain. In a subgroup of 190 patients who underwent also chest radiography (CXR), the sensitivity of LUS (81.4%, 95% CI 70.7%-89.7%) was significantly superior to CXR (64.3%, 95% CI 51.9%-75.4%) ( P < .05), whereas specificity remained similar (94.2%, 95% CI 88.4%-97.6% vs. 90%, 95% CI 83.2%-94.7%). Conclusions LUS represents a reliable diagnostic tool, alternative to CXR, for the bedside diagnosis of lung consolidations in patients with respiratory complains.
Background Presenting signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism (PE) are nonspecific, favoring a large use of second-line diagnostic tests such as multidetector CT pulmonary angiography (MCTPA), thus ...exposing patients to high-dose radiation and to potential serious complications. We investigated the diagnostic performance of multiorgan ultrasonography (lung, heart, and leg vein ultrasonography) and whether multiorgan ultrasonography combined to Wells score and D-dimer could safely reduce MCTPA tests. Methods Consecutive adult patients suspected of PE and with a Wells score > 4 or a positive D-dimer result were prospectively enrolled in three EDs. Final diagnosis was obtained with MCTPA. Multiorgan ultrasonography was performed before MCTPA and considered diagnostic for PE if one or more subpleural infarcts, right ventricular dilatation, or DVT was detected. If multiorgan ultrasonography was negative for PE, an alternative ultrasonography diagnosis was sought. Accuracies of each single-organ and multiorgan ultrasonography were calculated. Results PE was diagnosed in 110 of 357 enrolled patients (30.8%). Multiorgan ultrasonography yielded a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 86.2%, lung ultrasonography 60.9% and 95.9%, heart ultrasonography 32.7% and 90.9%, and vein ultrasonography 52.7% and 97.6%, respectively. Among the 132 patients (37%) with multiorgan ultrasonography negative for PE plus an alternative ultrasonographic diagnosis or plus a negative D-dimer result, no patients received PE as a final diagnosis. Conclusions Multiorgan ultrasonography is more sensitive than single-organ ultrasonography, increases the accuracy of clinical pretest probability estimation in patients with suspected PE, and may safely reduce the MCTPA burden. Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov ; No.: NCT01635257; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov
Background We examined the concordance between chest ultrasonography and chest radiography in patients with dyspnea, using chest CT scanning as the gold standard in case of mismatch between the two ...modalities. Methods A prospective, blinded, observational study was conducted in the ED of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. All consecutive patients presenting for dyspnea during a single emergency physician shift were enrolled independently from the underlying disease. Only patients with trauma were excluded. Results Both ultrasonography and radiography were performed in 404 patients; CT scanning was performed in 118 patients. Ultrasound interpretation was completed during the scan, whereas the average time between radiograph request and its final interpretation was 1 h and 35 min. Ultrasonography and radiography exhibited high concordance in most pulmonary diseases, especially in pulmonary edema (κ = 95%). For lung abnormalities such as free pleural effusion, loculated pleural effusion, pneumothorax, and lung consolidation, the concordance was similar for both left- and right-side lungs (all P not significant). When ultrasound scans and radiographs gave discordant results, CT scans confirmed the ultrasound findings in 63% of patients ( P < .0001). Particularly, ultrasonography exhibited greater sensitivity than radiography in patients with free pleural effusion ( P < .0001). Conclusions When performed by one highly trained physician, our study demonstrated high concordance between ultrasonography and radiography. When ultrasound scans and radiographs disagreed, ultrasonography proved to be more accurate in distinguishing free pleural effusion. Thus, considering the short time needed to have a final ultrasound report, this technique could become the routine imaging modality for patients with dyspnea presenting to the ED.
Lung ultrasound and pulmonary consolidations Volpicelli, Giovanni, MD; Zanobetti, Maurizio, MD
The American journal of emergency medicine,
09/2015, Letnik:
33, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
...in our study, we investigated signs of consolidation and only annotated artifacts as possible accompanying signs, never sufficient alone, without exploring the possibility of differential ...diagnosis with cancer 11. ...the comments and speculation about B-lines and air bronchograms in the letter are misplaced. ...the readers claim that our study will "not contribute to the current knowledge on clinical usefulness of thoracic ultrasound."
Abstract Background The link between minor troponin (cardiac troponin I cTnI) elevations and atrial fibrillation (AF) is still debated. Methods A total of 948 patients with AF lasting less than 48 ...hours participated in the study and were required to undergo 1-month and 12-month follow-up. The exclusion criteria were represented by younger than 18 years, the presence of hemodynamic instability, or severe comorbidity. Primary end point was the composite of ischemic vascular events inclusive of stroke, acute coronary syndrome, revascularization, and death. Results In the short term, 4 patients (5%) of 78 with abnormal cTnI reached the primary end point ( P = .001 vs others). Conversely, in the long term, 13 patients (17%) with abnormal cTnI, 21 (10%) with known ischemic vascular disease, and 50 (5%) aged patients (75 ± 10 years) reached the primary end point ( P < .001, P < .001, and P = .002, respectively). At multivariate analysis, abnormal cTnI (hazard ratio HR, 2.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-5.84; P = .005), known ischemic vascular disease (HR, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-3.70; P = .021), and age (HR, 1.05; 95 confidence interval, 1.02-1.08; P = .002) were predictors of the primary end point. Minimal or minor cTnI elevation (< 0.45 or ≥ 0.45 ng/mL, respectively) showed no differences when associated with the primary end point. The C-statistic demonstrated the significant prognostic value of older age and known ischemic vascular disease, beyond troponin. Clinical parameters inclusive of heart rate, blood pressure, and risk factors for arteriosclerosis showed no relationship with adverse events. Readmission rate did not differ between groups. Conclusions In patients with acute AF, minor cTnI elevations link to short-term adverse events. Known ischemic vascular disease and older age showed prognostic value only in the long term.
Abstract Purpose The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term prognostic value of stress echocardiography (SE) in patients evaluated in emergency department (ED) and to determine SE ...parameters that best predicted outcome. Methods Between June 2008 and July 2012, 626 patients with an episode of spontaneous chest pain underwent SE (exercise stress echocardiography or dobutamine stress echocardiography DSE). Between December 2012 and January 2013, all patients were contacted to verify the occurrence of cardiac events. Patients were divided in 3 subgroups according to peak stress Wall Motion Score Index (pWMSI): normal peak wall motion (pWMSI, 1; group A1), mild to moderate peak asynergy (pWMSI, 1.1-1.7; group A2), and severe peak asynergy (pWMSI, > 1.7; group A3). Results Stress echocardiography showed inducible ischemia in 159 patients (25%); it was negative in 425 (68%) and inconclusive in 42 (7%). Patients with cardiac events more frequently showed inducible ischemia (50% vs 26%; P = .015) compared with patients with good prognosis; a normal SE (14% vs 61%) was significantly less common. At a multivariate regression analysis, an increased pWMSI (relative risk: 9.816, 95% confidence interval: 3.665-26.290; P < .0001) was independently associated with a bad outcome. Cumulative event-free survival was significantly worse with an increasing degree of peak wall motion asynergy (99% in group A1; 96%, group A2; and 88% in group A3; P = .011 between A1 and A2 groups, P = .012 between A2 and A3 groups, and P < .0001 between A1 and A3 groups). Conclusions Stress echocardiography showed an optimal prognostic value among ED patients evaluated for chest pain. The presence of an extensive asynergic area at peak stress was associated with an adverse prognosis.
Abstract Background The novel exercise computer-assisted high-frequency QRS analysis (HF/QRS) has demonstrated improved sensitivity and specificity over the conventional ST/electrocardiogram-segment ...analysis (ST/ECG) in the detection of myocardial ischemia. The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic value of the validated exercise echocardiography (ex-Echo) with the novel exercise ECG (ex-ECG) including HF/QRS and ST/ECG analysis. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary care teaching Hospital. Patients with chest pain (CP), normal resting ECGs, troponins, and echocardiography, labeled as “intermediate-risk” for adverse coronary events, underwent the novel ex-ECG and ex-Echo. An ST-segment depression of at least 2 mV or at least 1 mV when associated with CP was considered as an index of ischemia, as well as a decrease of at least 50% in HF/QRS intensity, or new wall motion abnormalities on ex-Echo. Exclusion criteria were QRS duration of at least 120 milliseconds, poor echo-acoustic window, and inability to exercise. Patients were followed up to 3 months. The end point was the composite of coronary stenoses of 50% or greater at angiography or acute coronary syndrome, revascularization, and cardiovascular death on the 3-month follow-up. Results Of 188 patients enrolled, 18 achieved the end point. The novel ex-ECG and ex-Echo showed comparable negative predictive value (97% vs 96%; P = .930); however, sensitivity was 83% vs 61%, respectively ( P = .612), and specificity was 64% vs 92%, respectively,( P = .026). The areas on receiver operating characteristic analysis were comparable (ex-ECG: 0.734 95% confidence interval, or CI, 0.62-0.85 vs ex-Echo: 0.767 CI, 0.63-0.91; C statistic, P = .167). On multivariate analysis, both ex-ECG (hazard ratio, 5; CI, 1-20; P = .017) and ex-Echo (HR, 12; CI, 4-40; P < .001) were predictors of the end point. Conclusions In intermediate-risk CP patients, the novel ex-ECG including HF/QRS added to ST/ECG analysis was a valuable diagnostic tool and might be proposed to avoid additional imaging. However, the novel test needs additional study before it can be recommended as a replacement for current techniques.
Abstract Purpose To assess stress-echo (SE) diagnostic performance in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with spontaneous chest pain, especially in subgroups in which exercise ECG ...diagnostic performance has been questioned (women, elderly, history of coronary artery disease). Methods Between June 2008 and May 2011, 474 patients with an episode of spontaneous chest pain, non-diagnostic electrocardiogram and negative cardiac necrosis markers underwent SE. Patients with inducible ischemia (Isch) were asked to undergo coronary angiography. Patients with negative SE were discharged and contacted by telephone at least 6 months after discharge, to ascertain the occurrence of new cardiac events. Main findings Exercise stress-echo (ESE) was employed in 270 patients and dobutamine (DSE) in 218 (including 14 with inconclusive ESE); a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) was confirmed or excluded in 434 (92%) patients. SE was negative for Isch in 318 patients (206 ESE and 112 DSE) and positive in 132. During follow-up, patients with negative SE had 4 cardiac events. SE showed: sensitivity 90%, specificity 92%, positive predictive value 78% and negative predictive value 97%. Sensitivity was comparable between patients aged < or ≥ 70 years (84 vs 94%) and between gender (89 vs 96%), but lower in patients with known CAD (88 vs 94%, P < .05); specificity was comparable regardless of age (94 vs 99%) and presence of CAD (97 vs 91%), but was lower among women (87 vs 96%, P < .05). Conclusions SE had a very good diagnostic performance in ED patients with suspected Isch, both overall and in selected high-risk groups.
Abstract Background Several risk scores are available for prognostic purpose in patients presenting with chest pain. Aim The aim of this study was to compare Grace, Pursuit, Thrombolysis in ...Myocardial Infarction (TIMI), Goldman, Sanchis, and Florence Prediction Rule (FPR) to exercise electrocardiogram (ECG), decision making, and outcome in the emergency setting. Methods Patients with nondiagnostic ECGs and normal troponins and without history of coronary disease underwent exercise ECG. Patients with positive testing underwent coronary angiography; otherwise, they were discharged. End point was the composite of coronary stenosis at angiography or cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, angina, and revascularization at 12-month follow-up. Results Of 508 patients considered, 320 had no history of coronary disease: 29 were unable to perform exercise testing, and finally, 291 were enrolled. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for Grace, Pursuit, TIMI, Goldman, Sanchis, and FPR were 0.59, 0.68, 0.69, 0.543, 0.66, and 0.74, respectively ( P < .05 FPR vs Goldman and Grace). In patients with negative exercise ECG and overall low risk score, only the FPR effectively succeeded in recognizing those who achieved the end point; in patients with high risk score, the additional presence of carotid stenosis and recurrent angina predicted the end point (odds ratio, 12 and 5, respectively). Overall, logistic regression analysis including exercise ECG, coronary risk factors, and risk scores showed that exercise ECG was an independent predictor of coronary events ( P < .001). Conclusions The FPR effectively succeeds in ruling out coronary events in patients categorized with overall low risk score. Exercise ECG, nonetheless being an independent predictor of coronary events could be considered questionable in this subset of patients.
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