Ultrasound in Acute Dyspnea in the Field
Ultrasound in Acute Dyspnea in the Field
Acute heart failure is one of the main causes of acute respiratory distres in prehospital
 emergency setting. The early and correct diagnosis is important because the misdiagnosis can
 result in deleterious consequeance to patients. Rapid bedside tests (like NT-proBNP) and
 point-of-care lung ultrasound could be useful methods in field. This study confirmed that the
 combination of ultrasound sign in combination with rapid NT-proBNP test has a hibh diagnostic
 accuracy in differentiating between cardiac and pulmonray causes of acute dyspnea in the
 field and the tretament possibilities in clinical obscure cases are mainly improved.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Inclusion criterion for the study was shortness of breath as the primary complaint
 (defined as either the sudden onset of dyspnea without history of chronic dyspnea or
 an increase in the severity of chronic dyspnea).

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Exclusion criteria were age <18 years, history of renal insufficiency, trauma, severe
 coronary ischemia (unless patient's predominant presentation was dyspnea), and other
 causes of dyspnea: pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, carcinoma, pneumothorax, pleural
 effusion, intoxications (drugs), anaphylactic reactions, upper airway obstruction,
 bronchial stenosis, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder