Utility and diagnostic accuracy of bedside lung ultrasonography during medical emergency team (MET) activations for respiratory deterioration.
We investigated the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasonography during medical emergency team (MET) activations for respiratory deterioration.



We performed a prospective study of inpatients requiring MET evaluation for respiratory decompensation. A blinded investigator recorded videos of lung and lower extremity ultrasonography. The videos were reviewed by blinded investigators to determine a ultrasonography diagnosis. The accuracy of MET diagnosis and ultrasonography diagnosis were compared to the final diagnosis determined by retrospective chart review.



The ultrasound exam was completed in 49/50 (98%) patients enrolled in the study with a mean duration of 13±4min. When excluding six cases that were not amenable to diagnosis by our algorithm, we report a lung ultrasonography diagnostic accuracy of 84% (37/44) which is similar to the accuracy of the MET clinical diagnosis of 75% (33/44) (p=0.29). Furthermore, we report in 28/37 (76%) of cases where the lung ultrasonography diagnosis was correct, patients may have received inappropriate therapies.



Lung ultrasonography can be rapidly performed in the majority of patients with MET activation for respiratory deterioration. As an independent diagnostic test, lung ultrasonography is non-inferior to the MET clinical assessment and may prevent unnecessary treatments if used simultaneously.
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States. Electronic address: Soumitrasen.1983@gmail.com.
Soumitra
S
Sen
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States.
Ghazwan
G
Acash
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States.
Akmal
A
Sarwar
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States.
Yuxiu
Y
Lei
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States.
James M
JM
Dargin
D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014741:Video Recording