IntroductionWe studied the diagnostic accuracy of bedside lung ultrasound (the presence of a comet-tail sign), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and clinical assessment (according to the modified Boston criteria) in differentiating heart failure (HF)-related acute dyspnea from pulmonary (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/asthma)-related acute dyspnea in the prehospital setting.MethodsOur prospective study was performed at the Center for Emergency Medicine, Maribor, Slovenia, between July 2007 and April 2010. Two groups of patients were compared: a HF-related acute dyspnea group (n = 129) and a pulmonary (asthma/COPD)-related acute dyspnea group (n = 89). All patients underwent lung ultrasound examinations, along with basic laboratory testing, rapid NT-proBNP testing and chest X-rays.ResultsThe ultrasound comet-tail sign has 100% sensitivity, 95% specificity, 100% negative predictive value (NPV) and 96% positive predictive value (PPV) for the diagnosis of HF. NT-proBNP (cutoff point 1,000 pg/mL) has 92% sensitivity, 89% specificity, 86% NPV and 90% PPV. The Boston modified criteria have 85% sensitivity, 86% specificity, 80% NPV and 90% PPV. In comparing the three methods, we found significant differences between ultrasound sign and (1) NT-proBNP (P < 0.05) and (2) Boston modified criteria (P < 0.05). The combination of ultrasound sign and NT-proBNP has 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% NPV and 100% PPV. With the use of ultrasound, we can exclude HF in patients with pulmonary-related dyspnea who have positive NT-proBNP (> 1,000 pg/mL) and a history of HF.ConclusionsAn ultrasound comet-tail sign alone or in combination with NT-proBNP has high diagnostic accuracy in differentiating acute HF-related from COPD/asthma-related causes of acute dyspnea in the prehospital emergency setting.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01235182.

Introduction Prognosis in patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is poor. Higher survival rates have been observed only in patients with ventricular fibrillation who were fortunate enough to have basic and advanced life support initiated soon after cardiac arrest. An ability to predict cardiac arrest outcomes would be useful for resuscitation. Changes in expired end-tidal carbon dioxide levels during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may be a useful, noninvasive predictor of successful resuscitation and survival from cardiac arrest, and could help in determining when to cease CPR efforts. Methods This is a prospective, observational study of 737 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The patients were intubated and measurements of end-tidal carbon dioxide taken. Data according to the Utstein criteria, demographic information, medical data, and partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (Pet CO 2 ) values were collected for each patient in cardiac arrest by the emergency physician. We hypothesized that an end-tidal carbon dioxide level of 1.9 kPa (14.3 mmHg) or more after 20 minutes of standard advanced cardiac life support would predict restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Results Pet CO 2 after 20 minutes of advanced life support averaged 0.92 ± 0.29 kPa (6.9 ± 2.2 mmHg) in patients who did not have ROSC and 4.36 ± 1.11 kPa (32.8 ± 9.1 mmHg) in those who did ( P < 0.001). End-tidal carbon dioxide values of 1.9 kPa (14.3 mmHg) or less discriminated between the 402 patients with ROSC and 335 patients without. When a 20-minute end-tidal carbon dioxide value of 1.9 kPa (14.3 mmHg) or less was used as a screening test to predict ROSC, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were all 100%. Conclusions End-tidal carbon dioxide levels of more than 1.9 kPa (14.3 mmHg) after 20 minutes may be used to predict ROSC with accuracy. End-tidal carbon dioxide levels should be monitored during CPR and considered a useful prognostic value for determining the outcome of resuscitative efforts and when to cease CPR in the field.

We aimed to investigate the utility of end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration as a prognostic indicator of initial outcome of resuscitation, we conducted a prospective study of EtCO2 in adult victims of out-of-hospital non-traumatic cardiac arrest. We prospectively studied 139 adult patients. The initial, final, average, minimal and maximal EtCO2 was significantly higher in resuscitated patients than in non-resuscitated patients. Using an initial, average and final EtCO2 value of 10 mmHg correctly identified 100% of the patients who were subsequently resuscitated with an acceptable specificity (74.1%; 90%; 81.4%). Important observation from this study is that none of the patients with an average, initial and final EtCO2 level of less than 10 mmHg were resuscitated. Data from this prospective clinical trial indicate that initial, average and final EtCO2 monitoring during CPR is correlated with resuscitation. End-tidal CO2 monitoring has potential as a noninvasive indicator of cardiac output during resuscitation and a prognostic indicator for resuscitation.

After starting the trauma care system with emergency physicians in our region, there was a decrease in the number of deaths on hospital admission, a reduction in hospital mortality in the GCS group 6-8, a change in the temporal distribution of deaths, an improvement in functional neurological outcome and shortened hospitalization time.

In differentiating between cardiac and respiratory causes of acute dyspnea in pre-hospital emergency setting, NT-proBNP in combination with capnometry and clinical assessment was superior to NT-proBNP alone or NT-proBNP in combination with clinical assessment.

In the initial out-of-hospital care of patients with OP poisoning, it is essential to monitor QTc interval and GCS score. These measures help with prognosis, and may suggest when to initiate precautions to prevent complications (i.e., respiratory failure). The simplicity and promptness of these methods allow providers to perform early and effective triage.

NT-proBNP and troponin T levels, measured during the prehospital phase of care after acute ischaemic stroke, are strong predictors of in-hospital mortality.

In the initial out-of-hospital care of patients with OP poisoning, it is essential to monitor QTc interval and GCS score. These measures help with prognosis, and may suggest when to initiate precautions to prevent complications (i.e., respiratory failure). The simplicity and promptness of these methods allow providers to perform early and effective triage.