Undifferentiated Dyspnea with Point-of-Care Ultrasound, Primary Emergency Physician Compared with a Dedicated Emergency Department Ultrasound Team.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Emergency physicians (EPs) perform critical actions while operating with diagnostic uncertainty. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is useful in evaluation of dyspneic patients. In prior studies, POCUS is often performed by ultrasound (US) teams without patient care responsibilities.

Objectives

This study evaluates the effectiveness of POCUS in narrowing diagnostic uncertainty in dyspneic patients when performed by treating EPs vs. separate US teams.

Methods

This multicenter, prospective noninferiority cohort study investigated the effect of a POCUS performing team in patient encounters for dyspnea. Before-and-after surveys assessing medical decision-making were administered to attending physicians. Primary outcome was change in most likely diagnosis after PO

SUBMITTER: Beyer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8578047 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature