Point-of-Care Ultrasound Use by EMS Providers in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Michael A. Kreiser ◽  
Brieanna Hill ◽  
Dikchhya Karki ◽  
Elke Wood ◽  
Ryan Shelton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Patient Management ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Protocol Adherence ◽  
Video Acquisition ◽  
Advanced Airway ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Adrenaline Administration

Abstract Aim: Paramedics received training in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to assess for cardiac contractility during management of medical out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The primary outcome was the percentage of adequate POCUS video acquisition and accurate video interpretation during OHCA resuscitations. Secondary outcomes included POCUS impact on patient management and resuscitation protocol adherence. Methods: A prospective, observational cohort study of paramedics was performed following a four-hour training session, which included a didactic lecture and hands-on POCUS instruction. The Prehospital Echocardiogram in Cardiac Arrest (PECA) protocol was developed and integrated into the resuscitation algorithm for medical non-shockable OHCA. The ultrasound (US) images were reviewed by a single POCUS expert investigator to determine the adequacy of the POCUS video acquisition and accuracy of the video interpretation. Change in patient management and resuscitation protocol adherence data, including end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) monitoring following advanced airway placement, adrenaline administration, and compression pauses under ten seconds, were queried from the prehospital electronic health record (EHR). Results: Captured images were deemed adequate in 42/49 (85.7%) scans and paramedic interpretation of sonography was accurate in 43/49 (87.7%) scans. The POCUS results altered patient management in 14/49 (28.6%) cases. Paramedics adhered to EtCO2 monitoring in 36/36 (100.0%) patients with an advanced airway, adrenaline administration for 38/38 (100.0%) patients, and compression pauses under ten seconds for 36/38 (94.7%) patients. Conclusion: Paramedics were able to accurately obtain and interpret cardiac POCUS videos during medical OHCA while adhering to a resuscitation protocol. These findings suggest that POCUS can be effectively integrated into paramedic protocols for medical OHCA.

scholarly journals Return of spontaneous circulation in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by pulmonary embolism using early point-of-care ultrasound and timely thrombolytic agent application: Two case reports

2020 ◽  
pp. 102490792096413
Author(s):  
Su Yeong Pyo ◽  
Gwan Jin Park ◽  
Sang Chul Kim ◽  
Hoon Kim ◽  
Suk Woo Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Thrombolytic Agent ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Fibrinolytic Therapy ◽  
Spontaneous Circulation ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: Acute pulmonary embolism is a confirmed cause of up to 5% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and 5%–13% of unexplained cardiac arrest in patients. However, the true incidence may be much higher, as pulmonary embolism is often clinically underdiagnosed. Thrombolytic therapy is a recognized therapy for pulmonary embolism–associated cardiac arrest but is not routinely recommended during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Therefore, clinicians should attempt to identify patients with suspected pulmonary embolism. Many point-of care ultrasound protocols suggest diagnosis of pulmonary embolism for cardiac arrest patients. Case presentation: We describe two male patients (60 years and 66 years, respectively) who presented to the emergency department with cardiac arrest within a period of 1 week. With administration of point-of care ultrasound during the ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in both patients, fibrinolytic therapy was initiated under suspicion of cardiac arrest caused by pulmonary embolism. Both patients had return of spontaneous circulation; however, only the second patient, who received fibrinolytic therapy relatively early, was discharged with a good outcome. In this report, we discussed how to diagnose and manage patients with cardiac arrest–associated pulmonary embolism with the help of point-of care ultrasound. We also discuss the different clinical outcomes of the two patients based on the experience of the clinicians and the timing of thrombolytic agent application. Conclusions: If acute pulmonary embolism is suspected in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, we recommend prompt point-of care ultrasound examination. Point-of care ultrasound may help identify patients with pulmonary embolism during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, leading to immediate treatment, although the clinical outcomes may vary.

scholarly journals Utility of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

CHEST Journal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. A611
Author(s):  
Eric Bondarsky ◽  
Lina Miyakawa ◽  
Angela Love ◽  
Paru Patrawalla ◽  
Samuel Acquah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

scholarly journals LO33: Do electrocardiogram rhythm findings predict cardiac activity during cardiac arrest? A SHoC series study

CJEM ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (S1) ◽  
pp. S18-S18
Author(s):  
P. Atkinson ◽  
N. Beckett ◽  
D. Lewis ◽  
A. Banerjee ◽  
J. Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Cardiac Rhythm ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Cardiac Activity ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Likelihood Ratios ◽  
Series Study ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: Electrocardiographic (ECG) rhythms are used during resuscitation (ACLS) to guide resuscitation, and often to determine futility. Survival rates to hospital discharge have been reported to be higher for patients with PEA than asystole in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This study examines how well the initial ECG cardiac rhythm represents actual cardiac activity as determined by point of care ultrasound (PoCUS). Methods: A database review was completed for patients arriving to a tertiary ED in asystole or PEA arrest, from 2010 to 2014. Patients under 19y or with a previous DNR were excluded. Patients were grouped into those with cardiac activity (PEA) and asystole on ECG; as well as whether cardiac activity was seen on PoCUS during the arrest. Data was analyzed for visualized cardiac activity on PoCUS. Results: 186 patients met the study criteria. Those with asystole on ECG were more likely to have no cardiac activity than those with PEA (Odds 7.21 for initial PoCUS; 5.45 for any PoCUS). The sensitivity of ECG rhythm was 80.49% and 82.12%, specificity was 77.91% and 54.28%, positive predictive value was 94.28% and 88.57%, and negative predictive value was 30.43% and 41.30% for cardiac activity on initial PoCUS and on any PoCUS respectively. The positive and negative likelihood ratios for ECG were 3.47 and 0.25 for activity on initial PoCUS. The positive and negative likelihood ratios for activity on any PoCUS were 1.78 and 0.33. Conclusion: Our results suggest that although most patients with asystole on ECG demonstrate no cardiac activity, a small number actually had activity on PoCUS. This supports the use of PoCUS during cardiac arrest, in addition to ECG, to identify patients with ongoing mechanical cardiac activity.

Pilot Project: Does formal bedside training of medical students with a FAST exam increase their knowledge and comfort level with ultrasound use in a community family medicine practice setting?

POCUS Journal ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-17
Author(s):  
Rimi Sambi, MD ◽  
Heather Sawula, MD ◽  
Brent Wolfrom, MD ◽  
Joseph Newbigging, MD
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Family Medicine ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Undergraduate Curriculum ◽  
Knowledge Retention ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Medical Undergraduate ◽  
Fast Exam

As point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) becomes increasingly popular and a standard of care in many clinical settings, the interest for integration in medical undergraduate curriculum is also growing [1]. This project aims to assess whether formal bedside Focused Abdominal Scan for Trauma (FAST) exam training of medical students increases their knowledge and comfort with the use of bedside ultrasound in a family medicine setting at Queen’s University. Third year medical students (n=18) were recruited to participate in a training session involving a 1-hour online video and 2-hour hands-on session. Knowledge based surveys were completed before and after the training. A survey was completed 4 months after the teaching session evaluating knowledge retention, comfort, and application of skills. Student knowledge of PoCUS and FAST increased and was maintained (pre-training 56%±20%, post-training 82%±10%, p<0.001). Self-evaluation of comfort performing a FAST examination (5-point Likert scale) similarly increased post-training session (pre-training 1.4±0.8, post-training 3.8±0.9, p<0.005), but decreased 4 months later (3±1.2, p<0.005). Students in this study were unanimously interested in ultrasound training and the methods used effectively increased theoretical knowledge and comfort with use. Students did not retain their comfort levels with FAST exam 4 months after the training session, nor did they have the opportunity to utilize the skills learned. Further evidence is required to identify the applicability of these results to undergraduate curriculum development.

Advanced Airway Type and Its Association with Chest Compression Interruptions During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Attempts

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela F. Jarman ◽  
Christy L. Hopkins ◽  
J. Nicholas Hansen ◽  
Jonathan R. Brown ◽  
Christopher Burk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Chest Compression ◽  
Advanced Airway ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Knowledge and Skills of Lay Participants Training with Basic Life Support Program in Case of Cardiac Arrest

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (Suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. S44-S48
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Basic Life Support ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Lay People ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is an important cause that leads to hospital admission and death. Improving lay people’s knowledge and skills in basic life support (BLS) may lead to reduced death associated with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. “BLS NU KKU” is a BLS training program developed from up-to-date literature as a smartphone application used to train lay people in the community. Objective: To evaluate BLS-related knowledge and skills of participants before and after BLS training. Materials and Methods: A one group pretest-posttest design was used to implement the present study in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Participants were 350 individuals age 18 and older. An 8-hour BLS training session was offered to 10 groups of 35 participants over the period of 10 months between November 2018 and August 2019. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess BLS knowledge and Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. Results: The mean score for BLS-related knowledge significantly increased after the BLS training (mean = 15.05, SD = 2.51) compared to the scores before the training (mean = 10.47, SD = 3.43) (p<0.05). BLS skills improved from 0% to 100% (p<0.001) will all skills rated with mostly “excellent” and “good”. Satisfaction with the training program was also rated mostly with “excellent” and “good”. Conclusion: The BLS training program effectively improved participants’ knowledge and skills for basic life support. This program should be disseminated to train lay people in other settings. Keywords: Basic life support, Cardiac arrest, Mobile application

Point‐of‐care ultrasound in rural New Zealand: Safety, quality and impact on patient management

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 342-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry Nixon ◽  
Katharina Blattner ◽  
Marara Koroheke‐Rogers ◽  
Jillian Muirhead ◽  
Wendy L. Finnie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Patient Management ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound
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