In Switzerland 15% of discharged patients are readmitted within 30 days. Acute heart failure is the leading cause of hospital admission and one of the most frequent reasons for re-admission, mainly because of congestion-driven symptoms. Residual congestion is noted in 10%-15% of patients at discharge and is associated with an increased risk of re-admission and mortality. Lung ultrasound outperforms both chest X-ray and physical examination in detection of lung congestion. Several semiquantitative scanning protocols exist for quantifying congestion. The aim of this study is to compare for the first time two widely used lung ultrasound protocols, one exhaustive (28-points) and one simplified (8-points), in real-time settings. The focus is placed on reproducibility (expert-beginner interobserver concordance), feasibility (time consumption for images acquisition and interpretation) and performance (detection of B-lines clearing) of both scores. Semi-quantitative method is expected to have better feasibility with similar reproducibility and performance.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
43
The two different lung ultrasound protocols are performed initially within 48 hours of internal medicine ward admission by a pair of expert-beginner echographers. In case of admission during non-working days, the first scan can be done within 72 hours from admission. Follow-up scans are repeated 4 to 6 days later or on the day of discharge if it occurs before de fourth day. Experts and beginners execute the lund ultrasound protocols in sequence, reciprocally blinded, without accessing to clinical data files.
Geneva University Hospitals
Geneva, Switzerland
Inter-observer disagreement at admission lung ultrasound
The primary endpoint is the amount of disagreement between beginner and expert echographers at admission lung ultrasound. In order to compare protocols using different grading systems, a common 4-levels interstitial syndrome (IS) severity scale is defined. For the 28-point protocol, rating of total number of B-lines will be classified according to literature in severe (\>30), moderate (16-30), mild (6-15) or no signs of IS (≤5 B-lines). For the 8-point protocol, IS is arbitrarily classified as follows: 'severe' (6-8), 'moderate' (4-5), mild (2-3) and 'no signs' (0-1 positive zones).
Time frame: Day 0
Inter-observer disagreement at follow-up lung ultrasound
The amount of disagreement between beginner and expert echographers is measured at follow-up lung ultrasound. In order to compare protocols using different grading systems, a common 4-levels IS severity scale is defined. For the 28-point protocol, rating of total number of B-lines will be classified according to literature in severe (\>30), moderate (16-30), mild (6-15) or no signs of IS (≤5 B-lines). For the 8-point protocol, IS is arbitrarily classified as follows: 'severe' (6-8), 'moderate' (4-5), mild (2-3) and 'no signs' (0-1 positive zones).
Time frame: Day 4 to 6
Time consumption for images acquisition and interpretation at admission lung ultrasound
The time spent for images acquisition and interpretation is measured in both 28-point and 8-point protocols.
Time frame: Day 0
Time consumption for images acquisition and interpretation at follow-up lung ultrasound
The time spent for images acquisition and interpretation is measured in both 28-point and 8-point protocols.
Time frame: Day 4 to 6
Change in interstitial syndrome severity scale and amount of B-lines at follow-up ultrasound from baseline
The clearing of B-lines following decongestive therapy is analysed and correlated to a clinical congestion score evolution, the loss of weight, N terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide value decline.
Time frame: Day 0, Day 4 to 6
Post-discharge readmission and mortality at 30 days
The analysis of correlation between admission, follow-up lung ultrasound IS, echographic decongestion (i.e. B-lines clearing) with readmission and mortality at 30 days post-discharge
Time frame: Day 30 post-discharge
Post-discharge readmission and mortality at 60 days
The analysis of correlation between admission, follow-up lung ultrasound IS, echographic decongestion (i.e. B-lines clearing) with readmission and mortality at 60 days post-discharge
Time frame: Day 60 post-discharge
Post-discharge readmission and mortality at 90 days
The analysis of correlation between admission, follow-up LUS ISSS, echographic decongestion (i.e. B-lines clearing) with readmission and mortality at 90 days post-discharge
Time frame: Day 90 post-discharge
Post-discharge readmission and mortality at 180 days
The analysis of correlation between admission, follow-up lung ultrasound IS, echographic decongestion (i.e. B-lines clearing) with readmission and mortality at 180 days post-discharge
Time frame: Day 180 post-discharge
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