Point-of-Care Ultrasound Can Be Used to Evaluate for Acute Pulmonary Edema

Rapidly diagnosing or excluding pulmonary edema in patients with acute dyspnea is essential in determining emergency department treatment, but is often difficult, particularly in older patients and those with comorbidities, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Several studies have suggested a benefit of point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnosis of pulmonary edema. These authors performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the accuracy of detection of B-lines on point-of-care ultrasound, with diagnosis at clinical follow-up as the reference standard.

Seven prospective cohort and case-control studies, including a total of 1075 patients, were included. The overall sensitivity and specificity of point-of-care ultraso…