What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a new ultrasound algorithm called EMERALD-US designed to diagnose acute dyspnea causes in emergency department patients. Acute dyspnea occurs twice as often as chest pain and has a higher mortality rate. The study highlights the importance of quick and accurate diagnosis to improve treatment outcomes for conditions like heart failure, pneumonia, and obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Current ultrasound methods lack formal validation in emergency settings, so this study aims to fill that gap. The study uses the EMERALD-US algorithm, which applies lung, heart, and vascular ultrasound within the first hour after the patient's arrival in the emergency department. The ultrasound exams are performed by a physician not directly caring for the patient, and the results are kept separate from the treating physician. This approach helps assess the algorithm's diagnostic accuracy for the main causes of acute dyspnea, as well as less common causes like pulmonary embolism and pleural effusion. Participants with acute non-traumatic dyspnea will undergo ultrasound scans, with images reviewed blindly by a core lab. The study will compare the ultrasound diagnosis to the final hospital discharge diagnosis made by a team of senior physicians. Researchers will also examine the algorithm's feasibility, its correlation with other tests, and its impact on improving diagnosis and patient survival at 30 days. The main outcome measured is the discharge diagnosis averaged over about two weeks from emergency admission to hospital discharge.

Feasibility and Accuracy of an Ultrasound Algorithm for Acute Dyspnea Diagnosis in the Emergency Department