Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Dyspneic Patients with Suspected Heart Failure or COPD

In a retrospective study, POCUS was not associated with changes in length of stay or time to disposition decision in the emergency department.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can help differentiate between exacerbations of heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in emergency department (ED) patients with dyspnea. To assess the clinical impact of POCUS, researchers in Canada performed a retrospective chart review of patients aged ≥50 years with dyspnea and ED diagnoses of acute heart failure or COPD.

Of 3538 patients evaluated for dyspnea, 111 underwent POCUS and 81 met inclusion criteria. These 81 were matched with 243 similar patients who did not undergo POCUS. There was no significant difference in ED length of stay (the primary outcome) between the POCUS and no-POCUS groups (median, 592 and 626 minutes). There were also no significant differences in secon…

Reviewing Author

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Dyspneic Patients with Suspected Heart Failure or COPD

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Reviewing Author