Pia Iben Pietersen1,2, Søren Mikkelsen3, Annmarie T Lassen4, Simon Helmerik5, Gitte Jørgensen6, Giti Nadim4,7, Helle Marie Christensen8,9, Daniel Wittrock5, Christian B Laursen8,9. 1. Odense Respiratory Research Unit (ODIN), Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Sdr. Boulevard 29, entrance 87, 1st floor, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. Pia.iben.pietersen3@rsyd.dk. 2. Regional Center for Technical Simulation, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. Pia.iben.pietersen3@rsyd.dk. 3. The Prehospital Research Unit, Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. 4. Department of Emergency Medicine, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. 5. Department of Quality & Education, Ambulance Syd, Region of Southern Denmark, 5220, Odense SØ, Denmark. 6. Ambulance Syd, Region of Southern Denmark, 5220, Odense SØ, Denmark. 7. Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. 8. Odense Respiratory Research Unit (ODIN), Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Sdr. Boulevard 29, entrance 87, 1st floor, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. 9. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In a prehospital setting, the severity of respiratory symptoms in patients calling for an ambulance differ. The initial evaluation, diagnosing, and thereby management can be challenging because respiratory symptoms can be caused by disease in many organs. Ultrasound examinations can contribute with important information and support the clinical decision-making. However, ultrasound is user-dependent and requires sufficient knowledge and training. The aim of this study was to explore the quality of thoracic ultrasound examinations performed on patients by emergency medical technicians and paramedics in a prehospital, clinical setting. METHODS: From November 2018 - April 2020, Danish emergency medical technicians and paramedics (n = 100) performed thoracic ultrasound examinations on patients with respiratory symptoms using a portable ultrasound device. The ultrasound examinations were stored and retrospectively assessed by a reviewer blinded to the patients' symptoms and history, as well as the emergency medical technicians' and paramedics' findings. The image quality was scored from 1 to 5. The findings determined by the reviewer was then correlated with a questionnaire filled out by the emergency medical technicians and paramedics regarding ultrasonic findings and potential change in treatment or management of the patient. The agreement in percentage and as Cohen's kappa was explored. RESULTS: A total of 590 ultrasound examinations were assessed, resulting in a median image quality score of 3 (IQ1 = 4, IQ3 = 3). The overall agreement in percentage between the emergency medical technicians and paramedics and reviewer was high (87.7% for a normal scan, 89.9% for interstitial syndrome, 97.3% for possible pneumothorax, and 96.3% for pleural effusion). Cohen's kappa varied from 0.01 for possible pneumothorax to 0.69 for pleural effusion. Based on the questionnaires (n = 406), the ultrasound examination entailed a change in treatment or visitation in 48 cases (11.7%) which in this study population encompasses a number-needed-to-scan of 8.5. CONCLUSION: Emergency medical technicians and paramedics perform focused thoracic ultrasound examinations with adequate image quality sufficient to determine if pathology is present or not. The emergency medical technicians' and paramedics' assessment correlates to some extent with an experienced reviewer and their findings are most reliable for the inclusion of a normal scan or inclusion of pleural effusion. Implementation could possibly impact the number of patients receiving correct prehospital treatment and optimal choice of receiving facility.
BACKGROUND: In a prehospital setting, the severity of respiratory symptoms in patients calling for an ambulance differ. The initial evaluation, diagnosing, and thereby management can be challenging because respiratory symptoms can be caused by disease in many organs. Ultrasound examinations can contribute with important information and support the clinical decision-making. However, ultrasound is user-dependent and requires sufficient knowledge and training. The aim of this study was to explore the quality of thoracic ultrasound examinations performed on patients by emergency medical technicians and paramedics in a prehospital, clinical setting. METHODS: From November 2018 - April 2020, Danish emergency medical technicians and paramedics (n = 100) performed thoracic ultrasound examinations on patients with respiratory symptoms using a portable ultrasound device. The ultrasound examinations were stored and retrospectively assessed by a reviewer blinded to the patients' symptoms and history, as well as the emergency medical technicians' and paramedics' findings. The image quality was scored from 1 to 5. The findings determined by the reviewer was then correlated with a questionnaire filled out by the emergency medical technicians and paramedics regarding ultrasonic findings and potential change in treatment or management of the patient. The agreement in percentage and as Cohen's kappa was explored. RESULTS: A total of 590 ultrasound examinations were assessed, resulting in a median image quality score of 3 (IQ1 = 4, IQ3 = 3). The overall agreement in percentage between the emergency medical technicians and paramedics and reviewer was high (87.7% for a normal scan, 89.9% for interstitial syndrome, 97.3% for possible pneumothorax, and 96.3% for pleural effusion). Cohen's kappa varied from 0.01 for possible pneumothorax to 0.69 for pleural effusion. Based on the questionnaires (n = 406), the ultrasound examination entailed a change in treatment or visitation in 48 cases (11.7%) which in this study population encompasses a number-needed-to-scan of 8.5. CONCLUSION: Emergency medical technicians and paramedics perform focused thoracic ultrasound examinations with adequate image quality sufficient to determine if pathology is present or not. The emergency medical technicians' and paramedics' assessment correlates to some extent with an experienced reviewer and their findings are most reliable for the inclusion of a normal scan or inclusion of pleural effusion. Implementation could possibly impact the number of patients receiving correct prehospital treatment and optimal choice of receiving facility.
Authors: Brian West; Andrew Cusser; Stuart Etengoff; Hank Landsgaard; Virginia LaBond Journal: Prehosp Disaster Med Date: 2014-11-13 Impact factor: 2.040
Authors: Matthew E Prekker; Laura C Feemster; Catherine L Hough; David Carlbom; Kristina Crothers; David H Au; Thomas D Rea; Christopher W Seymour Journal: Acad Emerg Med Date: 2014-05 Impact factor: 3.451
Authors: Anna Katarina Hjorth-Hansen; Garrett Newton Andersen; Torbjørn Graven; Guri Holmen Gundersen; Jens Olaf Kleinau; Ole Christian Mjølstad; Kyrre Skjetne; Stian Stølen; Hans Torp; Håvard Dalen Journal: J Ultrasound Med Date: 2020-05-21 Impact factor: 2.153
Authors: Chad E Roline; William G Heegaard; Johanna C Moore; Scott A Joing; David A Hildebrandt; Michelle H Biros; Liberty V Caroon; David W Plummer; Robert F Reardon Journal: Air Med J Date: 2013 May-Jun
Authors: James Ronaldson; Christopher E J Moultrie; Alasdair R Corfield; Evelyn McElhinney Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2020-10-16 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Sundeep R Bhat; David A Johnson; Jessica E Pierog; Brita E Zaia; Sarah R Williams; Laleh Gharahbaghian Journal: West J Emerg Med Date: 2015-07-14
Authors: H M Christensen; P I Pietersen; C B Laursen; D Wittrock; G Nadim; G Jørgensen; L B Nielsen; M K Sørensen; I L Titlestad; A T Lassen; S Mikkelsen Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2022-02-19 Impact factor: 2.953
Authors: Martina Hermann; Christina Hafner; Vincenz Scharner; Mojca Hribersek; Mathias Maleczek; Andreas Schmid; Eva Schaden; Harald Willschke; Thomas Hamp Journal: Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 2.953