Article Categories: Study Protocol

Diagnostic Accuracy of Abdominal Point of Care Ultrasound in Primary Care: Study Design and Protocol 

Antonio Calvo Cebrián, MD; Rafael Alonso Roca, MD; Ignacio Manuel Sánchez Barrancos, MD – The aim of this study is to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal point of care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by family physicians (FPs) in primary care (PC), in comparison with the findings in the medical record (MR) at 12 months of follow-up. This study is conducted entirely in PC healthcare centers in Spain. Abdominal ultrasound scans performed by FPs (selected on the basis of their ultrasound knowledge and experience) are compared with the findings, or not, in the patient’s MR after a 12-month follow-up period.

Evaluation Of Congestion Levels in Septic Patients Admitted to Critical Care Units with a Combined Venous Excess-Lung Ultrasound Score (VExLUS) – a Research Protocol

Miguel Romano, MD; Eduardo Viana, MS; José Diogo Martins, MD; Rogério Corga da Silva, MD – Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection with a high mortality rate. Septic shock is a subset of sepsis with manifest circulatory dysfunction (use of vasopressors and persistent elevation of lactic acid) . As stated in literature, in addition to the use of empiric antibiotics and control of the infectious focus, intravenous fluid therapy is an essential intervention to promote hemodynamic stabilization. However, the literature also describes harmful outcomes related to fluid overload.

Accelerated Remote Consultation Tele-POCUS in Cardiopulmonary Assessment (ARCTICA)

Jeffrey Lam, MD; Sherwin Wong, BHSc MD; Nicholas Grubic, BScH; Salwa Nihal, MD(MBBS) MPhil MSc; Julia E. Herr, MSc; Daniel J. Belliveau, MD; Stephen Gauthier, MD; Steven J. Montague, MD; Amer M. Johri MD MSc FRCPC FASE – The ability of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to provide rapid and accurate bedside assessment of both the heart and lungs allows it to be a powerful tool in the management of patients presenting with dyspnea. However, while ultrasound equipment is readily available even in remote healthcare settings in Canada, physicians lack effective training opportunities to develop expertise in this potentially life-saving skill.