title: Impact of device selection and clip duration on lung ultrasound assessment in patients with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary edema is a common sign of heart failure and can be quantified by counting vertical artifacts (B-lines) on lung ultrasound (LUS). The primary aim of this study was to compare a pocket size ultrasound device to high-end ultrasound systems on the measured number of B-lines. We also compared the impact of different-length ultrasound clips on the measured number of B-lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 21 hospitalized patients with heart failure (81% men; median age, 73; 71% Caucasian) who underwent concurrent 8- and 4-zone LUS using both a pocket ultrasound device and a high-end ultrasound system. For the 4-zone scanning method, the median B line number was 2 (interquartile range, 1-4) for the pocket device and 3 (1-5) for the high-end system (P = .67). For the 8-zone method, the median B-line number was 4 (2-7) for the pocket device and 5 (3-7) for the high-end system (P = .18). A higher number of B-lines was identified on the 4- vs 2-second LUS clips (P < .001 for 4 zones, P = .001 for 8 zones), and on the 6- vs 4-second LUS clips (P=0.057 for 4 zones, P=0.018 for 8 zones).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest significant differences based on LUS clip duration rather than the type of ultrasound device used, with respect to the number of B-lines detectable in patients with heart failure. These factors should be considered in the design and reporting of LUS studies and in longitudinal assessments of heart failure patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: eplatz@partners.org.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Platz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Emergency Medicine and Cancer Epidemiology Unit, "Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino", Hospital and the University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pivetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Allison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Merz
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods