Accuracy of Point-of-Care B-Line Lung Ultrasound in Comparison to NT-ProBNP for Screening Acute Heart Failure.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this pilot study was to determine the accuracy of point-of-care B-line lung ultrasound in comparison to NT Pro-BNP for screening acute heart failure.


METHODS
An 8-zone lung ultrasound was performed by experienced sonographers in patients presenting with acute dyspnea in the ED. AHF was determined as the final diagnosis by 2 independent reviewers.


RESULTS
Contrary to prior studies, B-line ultrasound in our study was highly specific, but moderately sensitive for identifying patients with AHF. There was a strong association between elevated NT-proBNP levels and an increased number of B-lines.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, point-of-care lung ultrasound is a helpful tool for ruling in or ruling out important differential diagnoses in ED patients with acute dyspnea.
Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
E
E
Glöckner
Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
M
M
Christ
Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
F
F
Geier
Radiology, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
P
P
Otte
Department of Geriatrics, Marienhospital Herne, University Bochum, Nürnberg, Germany.
U
U
Thiem
Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
S
S
Neubauer
Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany.
V
V
Kohfeldt
Department of Geriatrics, Klinikum Nuernberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany; Institute for Biomedicine of Aging, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nürnberg, Germany.
K
K
Singler
chest ultrasound; emergency care; thoracic ultrasound; thorax
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