Carotid – Carotid Pulse Check
Pulse checks are essential in CPR to determine if a patient’s heart has started beating again or if they have passed. Doctors usually feel for a pulse manually, but this method can be slow and sometimes inaccurate. Because of these issues, pulse checks have been removed from basic CPR guidelines for non-medical people. Instead, point-of-care ultrasound is used more in critical care because it allows doctors to see if the heart is beating, which can be more reliable. Carotid ultrasound, in particular, is being studied because it doesn’t interfere with chest compressions and can help determine if a patient has a pulse.
DHF – Diastolic Heart Dysfunction in Congestive Heart Failure Patients
Congestive heart failure is a prevalent health concern affecting millions with a high mortality rate despite advances in treatment. Among the different forms, diastolic heart failure (DHF) is of significant clinical importance as it can be difficult to diagnose quickly in the hectic environment of the emergency department. While comprehensive echocardiograms are the gold standard for diagnosing DHF, they often take hours or days, possibly delaying proper care. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers a promising alternative due to its potential for rapid diagnosis within minutes at the patient’s bedside. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of POCUS as a tool to diagnose DHF by comparing its sensitivity and specificity to that of a comprehensive echocardiogram interpreted by a cardiologist.
ESPB -Erector Spinae Plane Block for Patients with Intractable Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department: A Pilot Study
In the emergency department, abdominal pain is often treated with narcotic pain medications, which can be addictive and contribute to the opioid crisis. A new approach called the Erector Spinae Nerve Block (ESPB) offers pain relief without using these drugs. ESPB involves a doctor using ultrasound to guide a needle and inject anesthetic near the spine, numbing the abdominal area. Trained emergency medicine doctors can perform this technique. A pilot study will test how effective and easy this method is compared to traditional pain medications for patients with severe abdominal pain.
ESPERTO – Evaluation of prototype continuous blood pressure measurement device compared to arterial line
Blood pressure is an important measurement taken during almost every medical visit. Sometimes, continuous monitoring is needed for patients with unstable blood pressure, strokes, or preeclampsia. This is done using an arterial line inserted into an artery, but it can be painful and invasive. This study will test a new, non-invasive device called the “Esperto device” that continuously uses ultrasound to measure blood pressure without discomfort. Researchers will compare its accuracy and precision to the traditional arterial line in ICU and emergency department patients to see if it can be an effective alternative.
MD Pocus
Coming soon…
Meth Ref – Methamphetamine Abuse and Cardiac Ejection Fraction
This study aims to understand how the length and frequency of methamphetamine use affect heart function, specifically, the heart’s ejection fraction, which measures how well the heart pumps blood. Methamphetamine abuse is known to cause heart failure, but it’s unclear how different patterns of use impact heart health in otherwise healthy individuals. Researchers will use bedside ultrasound in the emergency department to measure ejection fraction in patients. They will assess methamphetamine use over various periods, such as days, weeks, months, and years. Since stopping methamphetamine use can reverse early heart damage, educating patients and providing proper follow-up care and treatment could improve outcomes.
Mindray VS. Butterfly
Traditionally, Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is taught through a combination of in-person didactic lectures and hands-on practice. However, research has shown that virtual instruction is as effective as in-person methods and can increase ultrasound access in underserved and remote communities. As an alternative to the traditional model, Butterfly released Scanlab, an AI-powered teaching application, in January 2024. This program guides users with live US imaging and interactive tutorials, without the need for instructors or additional learning support. This study examines Scanlab’s efficacy in teaching student-level providers essential POCUS techniques and compares it with a traditional didactic training curriculum.
PE PESI – Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Predicting Adverse Outcomes in Emergency Department Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism
POC ultrasound (US) can be performed at the bedside by trained emergency physicians to assess for these markers of RVD. We hypothesize this will yield significant benefits in risk-stratifying individuals with acute PE and potentially influence disposition. This study aims to determine the role of US-guided measures of RVD in predicting clinical outcomes in patients with acute PE, both in isolation and in conjunction with PESI scores.
PC – Accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound in diagnosing pulmonary contusion on blunt chest trauma patients compared to trauma CT thoracic imaging
A pulmonary contusion (PC) is caused when a blunt force drives into the chest, resulting in the disruption of lung tissue. PCs are commonly seen in patients with blunt chest trauma, occurring in approximately 25-35% of these cases, and can lead to severe complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia. Chest x-rays and CTs are the most common imaging modalities used to diagnose a PC. However, in the hands of a skilled physician, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can offer a more sensitive alternative, with the added benefits of lower medical costs and reduced radiation exposure. This study aims to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of using POCUS to detect PC in patients with blunt chest trauma compared to using CT.
STEMI – Incidence of Detecting a Culprit Occlusion on Patients with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Activation Having Regional Wall Motion Abnormalities on Emergency Point of Care Cardiac Ultrasound
Heart attacks are a leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 25% of all deaths. Patients often go to the emergency department for help, where doctors diagnose heart attacks using a combination of medical history, physical exams, ECGs, and blood tests. Quick diagnosis is crucial because timely treatment can save lives. Recently, emergency physicians have started using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to assess patients who might be having a heart attack. This study aims to see if doctors can use POCUS to spot wall motion abnormalities in the heart, which can indicate a heart attack.
Scanning Culture
Standardized patients (SPs) are often used in medical training to provide physicians and physicians in training with live models on which to perform various medical examinations. Research has been performed to assess the experience of SPs across a broad range of examination types, but there has not yet been a study specifically done focusing on SP comfort and experience during ultrasound examinations. Ultrasound examinations have the potential to be invasive, so ensuring SP modesty and comfort is especially important. As such, this survey study aims to gain a better understanding of the ultrasound SP (USP) experience; specifically, whether USPs felt that they were well informed about what would take place during the ultrasound demonstration, comfortable, able to communicate any discomfort with the physician performing the ultrasound, and any other concerns they may have felt.
Serial Ultrasound Assessment of Volume Status in Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
At high altitudes, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) affects millions of hikers and visitors each year, with symptoms ranging from headaches to potentially life-threatening conditions if left untreated. At the White Mountain Research Center, we conducted a study using portable ultrasound technology to assess how fluid retention in the body relates to the development of altitude sickness. The study follows participants during a four-day ascent from sea level to 12,470 feet, comparing those taking acetazolamide, a common preventative medication, against those ascending without medication. Using the latest point-of-care ultrasound equipment, we measured participants’ cardiovascular status at multiple points throughout their climb, marking the first study to track these changes over time while controlling for medication use.