Emergency department ultrasound for the detection of B-lines in the early diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AbstractObjectivesDyspnea is a common presenting problem that creates a diagnostic challenge for physicians in the emergency department (ED). While the differential diagnosis is broad, acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a frequent cause that can be challenging to differentiate from other etiologies. Recent studies have suggested a potential diagnostic role for emergency lung ultrasound (US). The objective of this systematic review was to assess the accuracy of early bedside lung US in patients presenting to the ED with dyspnea.MethodsA systematic search of EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library was performed in addition to a grey literature search. We selected prospective studies that reported on the sensitivity and specificity of B-lines from early lung ultrasound in dyspneic patients presenting to the ED. Selected studies underwent quality assessment using the Critical Appraisal and Skills Program (CASP) questionnaire.Data Extraction and SynthesisThe search yielded 3674 articles; seven studies met inclusion criteria and fulfilled CASP requirements for a total of 1861 patients. Summary statistics from the meta-analysis showed that as a diagnostic test for ADHF, bedside lung US had a pooled sensitivity of 82.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=66.4% to 91.8%) and a pooled specificity of 83.6% (95% CI=72.4% to 90.8%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that in patients presenting to the ED with undifferentiated dyspnea, B-lines from early bedside lung US may be reliably used as an adjunct to current diagnostic methods. The incorporation of lung US may lead to more appropriate and timely diagnosis of patients with undifferentiated ADHF.

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LO074: Point of care ultrasound for lung B-lines in the early diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure in the emergency department: a systematic review

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2016.111 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 18 (S1) ◽

pp. S55-S55

Author(s):

K. McGivery ◽

P.R. Atkinson ◽

D. Lewis ◽

L. Taylor ◽

K. Gadd

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Likelihood Ratio ◽

Lung Ultrasound ◽

Acute Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

B Lines

Introduction: Dyspnea is a common presenting problem in the emergency department (ED) that frequently creates a diagnostic challenge for physicians. Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) represents a common cause that requires prompt diagnosis and management. Recent studies on dyspneic patients have suggested a potential role for point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS). The objective of this systematic review was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of early bedside lung ultrasound in patients presenting to the ED with dyspnea. Methods: A search of the literature was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, bibliographies of previous systematic reviews, and abstracts from major emergency medicine conferences. We included prospective studies that assessed the diagnostic accuracy of B-lines from bedside lung ultrasound in the ED patients compared to a clinical diagnosis of ADHF at hospital discharge. The final diagnosis included at least one of CXR, computed tomography, or BNP. Two reviewers independently screened all titles and abstracts for possible inclusions. Two separate content experts full text-reviewed selected studies and performed quality analysis using a modified Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) questionnaire. Extracted data was assessed with summary receiver operator characteristics curve (SROC) analysis with pooled sensitivity and specificity. Heterogenity was tested. Results: The electronic search yielded 3674 articles of which six met the inclusion criteria and fulfilled CASP requirements for methodological quality. The total number of patients in these studies was 1911. Heterogeneity was noted; due to poorer performance by novice users. Meta-analysis of the data showed that in detecting ADHF, bedside lung ultrasound had a pooled sensitivity of 89.6% (95% CI 69.5 to 97.0%) and a pooled specificity of 88.4% (95% CI 75.0 to 95.1%). The positive likelihood ratio was 6.01 (95% CI 2.93 to 12.32) and negative likelihood ratio was 0.13 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.30). Conclusion: This study suggests that in patients presenting to the ED with undifferentiated dyspnea, early point of care lung ultrasound may be used to confirm the diagnosis of ADHF, which may facilitate earlier appropriate management. Test performance may vary according to experience.

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P305 The evaluation of left ventricle filling pressure and lung ultrasound B-lines in the diagnosis of cardiogenic dyspnea

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jez319.158 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

T Valova

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Left Ventricle ◽

Lung Ultrasound ◽

Acute Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Filling Pressure ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Grey Zone ◽

X Ray ◽

B Lines

Abstract Introduction Dyspnea is the most frequent symptom of acute heart failure but it could also be a clinical presentation of some other noncardiogenic conditions. The differentiation of the origin of dyspnea could sometimes be a difficult task. The estimated elevation of left ventricle filling pressure with lung ultrasound proved positive B-lines score > 15 could be reliable as diagnostic methods for acute decompensated heart failure and proof of the cardiogenic origin of dyspnea. Purpose To evaluate the reliability of elevated left ventricle filling pressure and positive lung ultrasound B-lines score in differentiation of the origin of dyspnea. Methods Elevated E/e´>15 as a proof for elevated left ventricle filling pressure and multiple bilateral LUS B-lines (>15) were tested against conventional X-ray and NT-proBNP in 44 patients with cardiogenic dyspnea (23 NYHA III patients and 21 NYHA IV patients) and 42 patients with noncardiogenic dyspnea. Results Elevated left ventricle filling pressure detected with echocardography (E/e´>15) as a proof of acute decompensated heart failure was found in 18 NYHA IV patients and strongly correlated with multiple bilateral LUS B-lines > 15 (all 21 NYHA IV patients), alveolar edema from conventional X-ray (21 NYHA IV patients) and NTproBNP > 1000pg/ml in 17 NYHA IV patients. The results for NYHA III patients differ very much. Elevated filling pressure (E/e´ > 15) from echocardiography was found in 10 patients NYHA III. For the left 13 patients NYHA III E/e´ was in grey zone between 8-14. Multiple bilateral LUS B-lines >15 were found in 18 NYHA III patients. Interstitial pulmonary edema was found in 15 NYHA III patients and NTproBNP > 1000pg/ml was found in 16 NYHA III patients. E/e´ between 8-14 (grey zone) moderately correlated with NT-proBNP and strongly with pulmonary blood flow redistribution and interstitial edema from X-ray. Normal left ventricle filling pressure (E/e´ < 8) was found in 36 noncardiogenic patients. Only 6 patients with noncardiogenic dyspnea were with elevated left ventricle filling pressure (E/e´ > 15) which was explained with their overweight (BMI > 30) and hypervolemia and correlated with negative LUS B-lines. Only 1 patient with noncardiogenic dyspnea was with false positive B-lines score > 15 typical for pneumonia. Conclusions Elevated left ventricle filling pressure detected with Tissue Doppler echocardiography (E/e´>15) and positive LUS B-lines score > 15 are reliable modalities for the diagnosis of cardiogenic dyspnea in patients NYHA IV. In patient NYHA III with cardiogenic dyspnea the two presented modalities proved to be with moderate reliability and need references from conventional X-ray and NT-proBNP.

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