View clinical trials related to Point of Care Ultrasound.
Filter by:This study protocol aims to evaluate the impact of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) on the diagnosis and management of small bowel obstruction (SBO) in the emergency department (ED). SBO is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt diagnosis and management. Currently, the diagnosis of SBO is based on clinical evaluation and imaging tests, including plain abdominal radiography and computed tomography (CT) scan. POCUS is a bedside imaging technique that is rapid, non-invasive, repeatable, cost-effective and radiation-free, and can provide valuable information for the diagnosis and management of SBO. The primary objective of this study is to compare the time to diagnosis of SBO between patients who undergo POCUS intestinal loops examination and those who do not undergo POCUS in the ED. The secondary objectives include comparing the hospital length of stay, the rate of surgical intervention, the rate of complications, and the mortality rate between the two groups. This is a monocentric retrospective cohort study that will include all adult patients (> 18 years old) who presented to the ED with suspected SBO. The study population will be divided into two groups: the POCUS group and the non-POCUS group. The sample size calculation will be based on the assumption of a 30% reduction in the time to diagnosis of SBO in the POCUS group compared to the non-POCUS group, with a power of 80%. The results of this study may provide more robust evidence on the diagnostic accuracy and impact of POCUS for SBO in the ED.
Introduction Undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, including death from DVT-associated massive pulmonary embolism (PE). While several validated clinical prediction rules, blood test and imaging modalities exist to investigate a potential DVT, there is currently a lack of rapid, accessible and reliable methods to exclude the possibility of DVT without resorting to formal venous duplex scanning. Currently, the use in the ED of a validated clinical prediction rule combined with high-sensitivity D-dimer test has a poor predictive value, as 75-90% of patients suspected of DVT have a negative formal venous duplex scan. Compression bedside ultrasound has however recently been shown to be a safe, rapid and accurate method for the diagnosis of proximal DVT in the emergency department with a high sensitivity and specificity (combined sensitivity and specificity of 96.1% and 96.8%, respectively1). Research Question In the present study, the investigators will primarily assess whether two-site compression POCUS combined with a negative age-adjusted D-dimer test can accurately rule out DVT in ED patients regardless of the Wells criteria. Methods This is a single-center, prospective, observational study carried out over one year in the Emergency Department of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec. The investigators aim to enroll a convenience sample of 475 patients aged 18 years and older presenting to the ED with symptoms suggestive of a DVT. All enrolled patients will receive the standard of care required for a lower leg DVT presentation. After calculating Patients DVT risk using modified wells criteria, all patients will undergo POCUS for DVT followed by a D-dimer test. Based on their results, patients will either undergo formal duplex scanning, or will be discharged without further testing and receive a three-month phone follow-up. A true negative lower leg DVT will be defined as follows: 1. Negative follow-up phone questionnaire for patients who were sent home with no formal duplex venous scanning. 2. Negative formal duplex venous scanning for patients who were deemed likely to have lower leg DVT using the Wells score, with a negative D-dimer and POCUS Age-adjusted DVT was added to account for below knee DVT and avoid the need for patients to return for fellow up duplex study in 1 week. To estimate our technique's sensitivity with a 4% margin of error with 95% confidence intervals, 92 confirmed DVT patients are needed. The investigators expect to recruit a total 475 patients within one-year period at the JGH (95 DVT-positive patients and 380 DVT-negative patients). Impact The use of compression bedside ultrasound with a negative age-adjusted D-dimer test to rule out DVT in the ED may accelerate the decision regarding patient disposition and significantly decrease the length of patient stay in the ED. In addition, it may help avoid unnecessary medical interventions and diagnostic tests, thus representing potential quality of care and cost-saving improvements as well.