Chest CT-scan for the Diagnosis of Community-acquired Pneumonia — PACSCAN  

Dyspnea Clinical Trial

Official title: Chest CT-scan for the Diagnosis of Community-acquired Pneumonia in Patients Visiting the Emergency Department

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Primary objective : to estimate impact of CT-scan on diagnostic for emergency department (ED) patients with suspected Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP).

Secondary objective: to estimate impact of CT-scan on treatment (antimicrobial therapy) and site of care for ED patients with suspected CAP.

Clinical Trial Description

Rational: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a frequent infectious disorder in patients visiting the ED. CAP is responsible for high morbidity and associated-mortality is increasing in Western countries. CAP corresponds to invasion of the lung by pathogens. Diagnosis depends on clinical and X-ray assessment. However, these signs and symptoms are poorly specific and are often lacking. As prognosis depends on precocious and fitted antimicrobial treatment, making CAP diagnosis in a short time span (4-8 hours) is mandatory. Preliminary studies suggest that chest CT-scan could over-performed X-ray for diagnosis of CAP. Consensus conferences suggest the use of CT-scan in patients with uncertain diagnosis and unusual presentation and outcome. Because CT-scan is currently easily available, its use in a first intent is questionable for ED patients with suspected CAP.

Primary objective: to estimate impact of CT-scan on diagnostic for ED patients with suspected CAP.

Secondary objective: to estimate impact of CT-scan on treatment (antimicrobial therapy) and site of care for ED patients with suspected CAP.

Prospective multicenter study to measure chest CT-scan impact. 350 patients visiting the ED of 4 inner tertiary teaching hospitals in Paris, France, with suspected CAP.

Management: Patients will be managed according to current guidelines, including conventional chest X-ray.

Evaluation criteria. Attending ED physicians will implement pre- and post-test proforma for diagnosis (CAP) level of certainty, treatment (antimicrobial agents), site of care, before and after chest CT-scan. Comparison of ED physician's answers before/after CT-scan. Patients will be followed until day 28. An adjudication committee (1 pneumologist, 1 infectiologist, 1 radiologist)will review patients' data for gold standard diagnosis.

Statistical considerations: The investigators hypothesize that chest CT-scan wil modify diagnosis certainty in 20%. This implies that 300 participants should be enrolled to allow assessment of changes in 15 % et 25 %. Undue changes will be calculated a posteriori when diagnosis gold standard will be established by adjudication committee.

Anticipated results: Chest CT-scan should improve diagnosis certainty, treatment and site-of-care in patients visiting the ED with suspected CAP. If this is observed in at least 20%, the investigators will measure impact of chest CT-scan in a prospective randomized interventional study. ;

Study Design

Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Diagnostic

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Community-acquired Pneumonia
• Dyspnea
• Pneumonia

• NCT number: NCT01574066
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: November 2011
• Completion date: July 2013