About this trial
The goal of this prospective nonrandomized study is to determine if a lung ultrasound exam improves diagnosis of respiratory distress in patients being treated by Emergency Medical Services. The main question it aims to answer is whether ultrasound use increases likelihood of correctly diagnosing heart failure. Additional questions include:
* How well can paramedics obtain and interpret ultrasound images? * How does ultrasound use change treatment received by patients? * How does ultrasound use impact patient outcomes? Participants will receive a lung ultrasound exam, but otherwise receive standard evaluation and care. Patients who receive ultrasound will be compared to those who did not receive ultrasound for logistical reasons and patients from before the use of ultrasound. Ultrasound will not be withheld from any patient for the purposes of the study.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Patient treated by Emergency Medical Services
Complaint of dyspnea
Oxygen saturation <94% on room air
Abnormal lung sounds
Disqualifiers
Pediatric patients (<18)
Traumatic etiology
Cardiac arrest at any point prehospitally
No ultrasound-trained paramedic involved in patient's care
Trial design
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Pulmonary ultrasound
Diagnostic testUltrasound of up to six lung zones (1, 2, and 4) will be obtained. Paramedics will assess for the presence of B lines.
Treatment groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
Percent of prehospital diagnoses agreeing with hospital diagnosis
Diagnostic accuracy
Secondary outcomes
Survival to discharge
Whether or not patient is intubated by EMS or during hospital admission, recorded as yes or no
Days on ventilator or non-invasive ventilation
Length of stay
Sponsors and contacts
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Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lead sponsor
Christiana Care Health Services
Collaborator
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options: