Contribution of lung ultrasound in diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia in the emergency department: a prospective multicentre study

Lung ultrasound (LUS) can help clinicians make a timely diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).ObjectivesTo assess if LUS can improve diagnosis and antibiotic initiation in emergency department (ED) patients with suspected CAP.DesignA prospective observational study.SettingsFour EDs.ParticipantsThe study included 150 patients older than 18 years with a clinical suspicion of CAP, of which 2 were subsequently excluded (incorrect identification), leaving 148 patients (70 women and 78 men, average age 72±18 years). Exclusion criteria included a life-threatening condition with do-not-resuscitate-order or patient requiring immediate intensive care.InterventionsAfter routine diagnostic procedure (clinical, radiological and laboratory tests), the attending emergency physician established a clinical CAP probability according to a four-level Likert scale (definite, probable, possible and excluded). An LUS was then performed, and another CAP probability was established based on the ultrasound result. An adjudication committee composed of three independent experts established the final CAP probability at hospital discharge.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPrimary objective was to assess concordance rate of CAP diagnostic probabilities between routine diagnosis procedure or LUS and the final probability of the adjudication committee. Secondary objectives were to assess changes in CAP probability induced by LUS, and changes in antibiotic treatment initiation.ResultsOverall, 27% (95% CI 20 to 35) of the routine procedure CAP classifications and 77% (95% CI 71 to 84) of the LUS CAP classifications were concordant with the adjudication committee classifications. Cohen’s kappa coefficients between routine diagnosis procedure and LUS, according to adjudication committee, were 0.07 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.11) and 0.61 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.66), respectively. The modified probabilities for the diagnosis of CAP after LUS resulted in changes in antibiotic prescriptions in 32% (95% CI 25 to 40) of the cases.ConclusionIn our study, LUS was a powerful tool to improve CAP diagnosis in the ED, reducing diagnostic uncertainty from 73% to 14%.Trial registration numberNCT03411824.

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Quick diagnostic and management community acquired pneumonia at Sumbawa hospital: a case report

International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences ◽

10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20185184 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 297

Author(s):

Muhammad Ahmad Syammakh ◽

Elim Jusri ◽

Gede Agung Setya ◽

Made Aryadi Sukartika

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Lung Ultrasound ◽

Lower Lobe ◽

Symptomatic Treatment ◽

Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽

Pulmonary Parenchyma ◽

The Right ◽

Hospital Acquired ◽

B Lines ◽

Good Oxygenation

Pneumonia is most common cause of respiratory distress an infection of the pulmonary parenchyma. Despite being the cause of significant morbidity and mortality, it is often misdiagnosed, mistreated, and underestimated. Pneumonia historically was Typically classified as community-acquired (CAP), hospital-acquired (HAP), or ventilator-associated (VAP). A 68-year-old male was sent to the emergency department from clinic with an oxygen saturation of 86%. She has fevers with cough and generalized weakness for one week. She had been evaluated by her primary care provider on day two of illness and was started empirically on cefixime without improvement of her symptoms. The patient arrived febrile, tachycardic, tachypneic, and hypoxic on room air with right-sided crackles on exam. Lung Ultrasound of the right lower lobe demonstrates lung hepatization, a classic finding for pneumonia. In addition, a shred sign is present with both air bronchograms and focal B lines-all suggestive of poorly aerated, consolidated lung. Authors critically evaluate the evidence for the use lung ultrasound for rapid diagnostic. It is important to understand this disease, rapid diagnostic with ultrasound and when treated promptly and effectively, these patients will rapidly recovery. Good oxygenation, intravenous Antibiotic, intravenous fluids and symptomatic treatment which should be started within minutes of the patients’ arrival to emergency department.

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Prognostic Prediction Value of qSOFA, SOFA, and Admission Lactate in Septic Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Emergency Department

Emergency Medicine International ◽

10.1155/2020/7979353 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haijiang Zhou ◽

Tianfei Lan ◽

Shubin Guo

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽

Prediction Performance ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Severity Scores ◽

Prognostic Prediction ◽

Vasopressor Use

Background. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of sepsis and common presentation to emergency department (ED) with a high mortality rate. The prognostic prediction value of sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and quick SOFA (qSOFA) scores in CAP in ED has not been validated in detail. The aim of this research is to investigate the prognostic prediction value of SOFA, qSOFA, and admission lactate compared with that of other commonly used severity scores (CURB65, CRB65, and PSI) in septic patients with CAP in ED. Methods. Adult septic patients with CAP admitted between Jan. 2017 and Jan. 2019 with increased admission SOFA ≥ 2 from baseline were enrolled. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. The secondary outcome included intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use. Prognostic prediction performance of the parameters above was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were compared using optimal cutoff values of qSOFA and admission lactate. Results. Among the 336 enrolled septic patients with CAP, 89 patients died and 247 patients survived after 28-day follow-up. The CURB65, CRB65, PSI, SOFA, qSOFA, and admission lactate levels were statistically significantly higher in the death group (P<0.001). qSOFA and SOFA were superior and the combination of qSOFA + lactate and SOFA + lactate outperformed other combinations of severity score and admission lactate in predicting both primary and secondary outcomes. Patients with admission qSOFA < 2 or lactate ≤ 2 mmol/L showed significantly prolonged survival than those patients with qSOFA ≥ 2 or lactate > 2 mmol/L (log-rank χ2 = 59.825, P<0.001). The prognostic prediction performance of the combination of qSOFA and admission lactate was comparable to the full version of SOFA (AUROC 0.833 vs. 0.795, Z = 1.378, P=0.168 in predicting 28-day mortality; AUROC 0.868 vs. 0.895, Z = 1.022, P=0.307 in predicting ICU admission; AUROC 0.868 vs. 0.845, Z = 0.921, P=0.357 in predicting mechanical ventilation; AUROC 0.875 vs. 0.821, Z = 2.12, P=0.034 in predicting vasopressor use). Conclusion. qSOFA and SOFA were superior to CURB65, CRB65, and PSI in predicting 28-day mortality, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor use for septic patients with CAP in ED. Admission qSOFA with lactate is a convenient and useful predictor. Admission qSOFA ≥ 2 or lactate > 2 mmol/L would be very helpful in discriminating high-risk patients with a higher mortality rate.

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Fractures in the Pediatric Emergency Department: Are We Considering Abuse?

Clinical Pediatrics ◽

10.1177/0009922818759319 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 57 (10) ◽

pp. 1161-1167 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lindsay R. Lavin ◽

Cody H. Penrod ◽

Cristina M. Estrada ◽

Donald H. Arnold ◽

Benjamin R. Saville ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Pediatric Emergency ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Predictor Variables ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Pediatric Emergency Department ◽

Emergency Physicians ◽

Primary Outcome Variable

Approximately one fourths of infant fractures are due to abuse. Recognition of abuse is important to avoid further morbidity/mortality. There is limited knowledge regarding how frequently pediatric emergency department clinicians consider abuse in infants with fractures. Our primary objective was to estimate the percentage of infants with fractures for whom abuse was considered, and to examine characteristics associated with abuse consideration. We performed a retrospective review of infants <1 year of age presenting to a pediatric emergency department. Our primary outcome variable was consideration of abuse. Our secondary outcome measures were identification of predictor variables associated with consideration of abuse. We identified 509 infants meeting study criteria. Pediatric emergency physicians considered abuse in approximately two thirds of infants with fractures. Consideration was more likely to occur in younger infants, in the presence of no history or unwitnessed injury mechanism, when evaluated by male physicians, and emergency department encounters from 12 am to 6 am.

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Community-Acquired Pneumonia Diagnosis Using Lung Ultrasound in Emergency Room Adults

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04210102 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Emergency Room ◽

Lung Ultrasound ◽

Community Acquired Pneumonia ◽

Pneumonia Diagnosis

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Lung ultrasound and computed tomography to monitor COVID-19 pneumonia in critically ill patients: a two-center prospective cohort study

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental ◽

10.1186/s40635-020-00367-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Micah L. A. Heldeweg ◽

Jorge E. Lopez Matta ◽

Mark E. Haaksma ◽

Jasper M. Smit ◽

Carlos V. Elzo Kraemer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Lung Ultrasound ◽

Composite Endpoint ◽

Pulmonary Involvement ◽

Chest Ct ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Icu Stay ◽

Academic Hospitals ◽

Ultrasound Score

Abstract Background Lung ultrasound can adequately monitor disease severity in pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We hypothesize lung ultrasound can adequately monitor COVID-19 pneumonia in critically ill patients. Methods Adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit of two academic hospitals who underwent a 12-zone lung ultrasound and a chest CT examination were included. Baseline characteristics, and outcomes including composite endpoint death or ICU stay > 30 days were recorded. Lung ultrasound and CT images were quantified as a lung ultrasound score involvement index (LUSI) and CT severity involvement index (CTSI). Primary outcome was the correlation, agreement, and concordance between LUSI and CTSI. Secondary outcome was the association of LUSI and CTSI with the composite endpoints. Results We included 55 ultrasound examinations in 34 patients, which were 88% were male, with a mean age of 63 years and mean P/F ratio of 151. The correlation between LUSI and CTSI was strong (r = 0.795), with an overall 15% bias, and limits of agreement ranging − 40 to 9.7. Concordance between changes in sequentially measured LUSI and CTSI was 81%. In the univariate model, high involvement on LUSI and CTSI were associated with a composite endpoint. In the multivariate model, LUSI was the only remaining independent predictor. Conclusions Lung ultrasound can be used as an alternative for chest CT in monitoring COVID-19 pneumonia in critically ill patients as it can quantify pulmonary involvement, register changes over the course of the disease, and predict death or ICU stay > 30 days. Trial registration: NTR, NL8584. Registered 01 May 2020—retrospectively registered, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8584

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P029: Requesting prescriptions in the emergency department: the patient, the request and the response

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2020.236 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (S1) ◽

pp. S74-S75

Author(s):

L. Shepherd ◽

M. Mucciaccio ◽

K. VanAarsen

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Family Doctor ◽

Wait Time ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Urgent Care ◽

Care Centre ◽

Medication Prescription ◽

Physician Decision Making ◽

Service Gap ◽

Urgent Care Centre

Introduction: Patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) for the sole purpose of requesting prescriptions are problematic. Problematic for the patient, who may have a long wait to be seen and may leave dissatisfied. Problematic for the ED physician, who is in the business of episodic not comprehensive care and is diligently trying to avoid the misappropriation of medications. The primary objective of this study was to determine the characteristics of patients who present to the ED or Urgent Care Centre (UCC) requesting a prescription, the nature of these requests and the resulting action by the attending physician. The secondary objective was to determine the proportion of medication requests and responses that have potential street value. With this knowledge we may be better positioned to serve these patients and support physician decision-making. Methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective electronic chart review looking at all adult patients with a presenting complaint of medication request who attended a two-site tertiary ED or an Urgent Care Centre (UCC) in London, Ontario between April 1, 2014 and June 30, 2017. Data was tested for normality and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 1923 cases met the inclusion criteria. Cases were removed (n = 421) if it was unclear which prescription was requested or if a non-medication prescription or injection was requested. The patient median (IQR) age was 44 (32-54) with 58% being male and 55% having a family doctor. There were a total of 2261 prescriptions requested by 1502 patients. The top 3 most commonly requested classes of medications were opioids 433/1502 (28.8%), antidepressants/antipsychotics 371/1502 (24.7%) and benzodiazepines 252/1502 (16.8%). The median (IQR) wait time was 73 minutes (35-128). 298/1502 (19.8%) of patients received their requested prescription (opioids 12.7%; antidepressant/antipsychotic 55.3% and benzodiazepines 16.3%). 740/1502 (49.3%) of patients requested a medication that had street value. Of those, 118/740 (15.9%) received the requested medication. Conclusion: There is no “one size fits all” solution for the patient who presents to the ED requesting a prescription. The large number of requests for psychiatric medications suggests a service gap for mental health patients in the community. This data supports the need for comprehensive electronic medication records to guide physicians’ decisions.

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Comparative 4-year risk and type of hospital admission among homeless and housed emergency department attendees: longitudinal study of hospital records in England 2013–2018

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049811 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e049811

Author(s):

Charlie Moss ◽

Matt Sutton ◽

Sudeh Cheraghi-Sohi ◽

Caroline Sanders ◽

Thomas Allen

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Primary Diagnosis ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Emergency Admissions ◽

Incident Rate Ratio ◽

Chronic Angina ◽

Access To Primary Care ◽

Incident Rate ◽

Preventable Admissions

ObjectivesPeople experiencing homelessness are frequent users of secondary care. Currently, there is no study of potentially preventable admissions for homeless patients in England. We aim to estimate the number of potentially preventable hospital admissions for homeless patients and compare to housed patients with similar characteristics.DesignRetrospective matched cohort study.SettingHospitals in England.Participants16 161 homeless patients and 74 780 housed patients aged 16–75 years who attended an emergency department (ED) in England in 2013/2014, matched on the basis of age, sex, ED attended and primary diagnosis.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAnnual counts of admissions, emergency admissions, ambulatory care-sensitive (ACS) emergency admissions, acute ACS emergency admissions and chronic ACS emergency admissions over the following 4 years (2014/2015–2017/2018). We additionally compare the prevalence of specific ACS conditions for homeless and housed patients.ResultsMean admissions per 1000 patients per year were 470 for homeless patients and 230 for housed patients. Adjusted for confounders, annual admissions were 1.79 times higher (incident rate ratio (IRR)=1.79; 95% CI 1.69 to 1.90), emergency admissions 2.08 times higher (IRR=2.08; 95% CI 1.95 to 2.21) and ACS admissions 1.65 times higher (IRR=1.65; 95% CI 1.51 to 1.80), compared with housed patients. The effect was greater for acute (IRR=1.78; 95% CI 1.64 to 1.93) than chronic (IRR=1.45; 95% CI 1.27 to 1.66) ACS conditions. ACS conditions that were relatively more common for homeless patients were cellulitis, convulsions/epilepsy and chronic angina.ConclusionsHomeless patients use hospital services at higher rates than housed patients, particularly emergency admissions. ACS admissions of homeless patients are higher which suggests some admissions may be potentially preventable with improved access to primary care. However, these admissions comprise a small share of total admissions.

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TeleNeurological evaluation and Support for the Emergency Department (TeleNS-ED): protocol for an open-label clinical trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048293 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e048293

Author(s):

Jessica Mandrioli ◽

Mario Santangelo ◽

Antonio Luciani ◽

Stefano Toscani ◽

Elisabetta Zucchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Clinical Investigation ◽

Neurological Diseases ◽

Medical Personnel ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Control Group ◽

National Guidelines ◽

Open Label ◽

Time Saving ◽

Hospital Networks

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic compelled health systems to protect patients and medical personnel during transit in hospitals by minimising transfers, prompting the use of telehealth systems. In the field of neurology, telemedicine has been used in emergency settings for acute stroke management between spoke and hub hospital networks, where good outcomes have been achieved. However, data on the use of telemedicine in non-stroke acute neurological conditions accessing the emergency department (ED) are currently missing.Methods and analysesThis is an interventional, open-label trial on the use of teleconsultation in the ED for neurological diseases other than stroke. The study aims to develop a remote consultancy system (TeleNeurological Evaluation and Support, TeleNS) for patients with acute neurological symptoms referred to hospital facilities without a 24-hour availability of a neurologist consultant (spoke hospitals). The study population will include 100 ED patients referred to two spoke hospitals in 6 months, who will be asked to perform teleconsultation instead of inperson visits. As a control group, retrospectively available data from patients admitted to the ED of spoke hospitals during the same time period over the last 2 years will be evaluated. The primary objective is to assess whether a TeleNS for the ED guarantees a faster but qualitatively non-inferior diagnostic/therapeutic work-up if compared with inperson examination, assuring the availability of all the necessary examinations and treatments with consistent time-saving.Ethics and disseminationThe trial was designed following the national guidelines on clinical investigation on telemedicine provided by the Italian Ministry of Health and according to the Standard Protocol Items for Randomized Trials statement guidelines. This research protocol was approved by Comitato Etico Area Vasta Emilia Nord in September 2020 (number/identification: 942/2020/DISP/AOUMO SIRER ID 805) and was written without patient involvement. Patients’ associations will be involved in the dissemination of study design and results. The results of the study will be presented during scientific symposia or published in scientific journals.Trial registration numberNCT04611295.

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