title: The efficacy of bedside chest ultrasound: from accuracy to outcomes.
abstract: For many respiratory physicians, point-of-care chest ultrasound is now an integral part of clinical practice. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound to detect abnormalities of the pleura, the lung parenchyma and the thoracic musculoskeletal system is well described. However, the efficacy of a test extends beyond just diagnostic accuracy. The true value of a test depends on the degree to which diagnostic accuracy efficacy influences decision-making efficacy, and the subsequent extent to which this impacts health outcome efficacy. We therefore reviewed the demonstrable levels of test efficacy for bedside ultrasound of the pleura, lung parenchyma and thoracic musculoskeletal system.For bedside ultrasound of the pleura, there is evidence supporting diagnostic accuracy efficacy, decision-making efficacy and health outcome efficacy, predominantly in guiding pleural interventions. For the lung parenchyma, chest ultrasound has an impact on diagnostic accuracy and decision-making for patients presenting with acute respiratory failure or breathlessness, but there are no data as yet on actual health outcomes. For ultrasound of the thoracic musculoskeletal system, there is robust evidence only for diagnostic accuracy efficacy.We therefore outline avenues to further validate bedside chest ultrasound beyond diagnostic accuracy, with an emphasis on confirming enhanced health outcomes.
authors: Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia m.hew@alfred.org.au.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Hew
authors: Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia Dept of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Tunn Ren
authors: TR
authors: Tay
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography