Evaluation of Outcomes in Respiratory Distress Following Diagnostic Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in the Prehospital Setting
About
Research investigators from Carilion Clinic's Department of Emergency Medicine and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, in conjunction with Carilion Clinic Life-Guard and local emergency medical service agencies—Roanoke Fire-EMS, Botetourt County Department of Fire & EMS and Salem Fire-EMS—have initiated a phase 2 clinical research study that will further explore the use of ultrasound and its potential impact on patient outcomes in the emergency prehospital setting. This study has concluded.
The study focused on utilization of portable point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to aid in diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting with respiratory distress. Various patient prehospital and hospital outcomes will be assessed to identify whether ultrasound use extends its benefits beyond initial diagnostic capacity.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria
This study will enroll all patients being transported to Emergency Departments by Roanoke Fire-EMS, Botetourt County Department of Fire & EMS, Salem Fire-EMS and/or Carilion Clinic Life-Guard who present with shortness of breath at any time during their treatment.
Exclusion Criteria
- Patient is less than 18 years old
- Known pregnancy
- Prisoners and other populations with involuntary consent
Primary Investigator
Dr. Bernier is an Emergency Medicine physician who oversees our EMS fellowship program. She is also an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
Contact Information
Please email the study team with your questions and contact information.
Results
The research team, under the leadership of Dr. Carol Bernier, trained EMS clinicians in the Roanoke Valley in how to obtain and interpret ultrasound images. The goal of the study was to demonstrate that paramedic-preformed and paramedic-interpreted lung ultrasound is an accurate diagnostic tool for prehospital life support. Participants experiencing respiratory distress were randomized into two groups: receive focused ultrasound images during pre-hospital care, or no focused ultrasound images during pre-hospital care. The study included 162 participants; 53 participants received ultrasound images and 109 did not. The results show that paramedics from four different EMS agencies (urban, suburban, rural ground EMS, and helicopter EMS) who used ultrasound had an improved diagnostic accuracy of 15.9%.
