The investigators aim to study the feasibility and reliability of pocket-size diagnostic ultrasound examinations performed by nurses of postoperative patients who have underwent cardiothoracic surgery in a cardiac unit.
Patient inclusion: Post-operative cardiothoracic surgery patients transferred to a cardiac unit. All such patients are eligible for inclusion if they consent to participate in the study. No other exclusion criteria other than not willing/able to give their consent. Only postoperative patients will be included. Study population: Approximately 50 patients Intervention: All participants will undergo careful medical history, physical examination and blood tests led by residents. All patients will routinely be examined with ultrasound by nurses trained in ultrasound examinations of the pleural space and the pericardium and a complete high-end echocardiography including assessment of both pleural cavities and the pericardial space will be performed in all by cardiologists. Statistics and results: Feasibility and reliability will be studied.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
59
Focused examination of the pleural space and inferior vena cava.Reference method: Cardiologists performed ultrasound examinations.
Department of medicine, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Health Trust
Levanger, Norway
Feasibility and reliability
Feasibility: Proportion of patients where the pleural and pericardial cavitis can be assessed and interpreted by ultrasound performed by nurses compared with cardiologists.
Time frame: 0 days
Reliability
Validation of ultrasound examinations and interpretation of the pleural and pericardial cavities by nurses compared with cardiologists as reference.
Time frame: 0 days
Time use
Comparison of the time use of ultrasound examinations of the pleural and pericardial cavities when examinations are performed by nurses and cardiologists, respectively.
Time frame: 0 days
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