A Check-list Including Lung Ultrasound for ED Patients With ARF

Evaluation of a Check-list Including Lung Ultrasound for the Management of Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure at the Emergency Department During the COVID-19 Era

The aim of the study is to evaluate if a check-list including lung ultrasonography can help to identify the etiology of the acute respiratory failure of patients managed at the emergency room.

Adult patients admitted to the emergency room for acute respiratory failure will be offered the study. The emergency physician will perform a systematic examination using a checklist, including pulmonary embolism prediction scores, structured clinical examination and lung ultrasound, in order to establish a diagnostic hypothesis.

A diagnostic hypothesis will be made after completion of the checklist. The emergency physician can perform additional examinations and treatment after completion of the checklist.

The final diagnosis will be checked by an adjudication committee which will have all the documents established during the emergency room consultation and any hospitalization following this hospitalization.

The main outcome will be the concordance rate between the diagnosis after the check-list and the final diagnosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient with acute respiratory failure table (SpO2 90% in ambient air or need more than 3 L/min of oxygen to have SpO2 > 92% AND/OR signs of respiratory struggle sign AND/OR respiratory rate control > 25 cycles/minute AND/OR cyanosis)
• Over 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant, Parturising or Breastfeeding Women
• Patient who has already participated in the study in the previous 7 days