Impact of point-of-care cardiopulmonary ultrasound on treatment change in critically ill patients: assessment of 1 913 cases in a multicentric, prospective study / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To describe the features of point-of-care cardiopulmonary ultrasound (POCUS) in the critically ill patients and analyze the independent factors associated with treatment changes after POCUS assessment.Methods:This was a prospective multicentric observational study from January to December 2018 in 13 intensive care units (ICU) in China. Consecutive patients admitted to the ICU were enrolled, POCUS were performed within the first 24 h of admission. The POCUS parameters included acute or chronic cardiac abnormality, diameter of inferior vena cava (IVC) at end-expiration, right ventricular systolic function, systolic and diastolic function of left ventricle (LV) and lung ultrasound score. The general features of patients and performers were recorded. Based on the treatment proposed by the performer before and after POCUS assessment, the patients were divided into treatment changed and unchanged groups. Factors associated with treatment changes were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis.Results:Totally 1 913 patients were enrolled including 322 (16.8%) patients with shock, 638 (33.3%) patients with respiratory failure, 139 (7.3%) patients with both shock and respiratory failure and 814 (42.6%) perioperative patients. POCUS had contributed to treatment changes in 1 204 (62.9%) patients, including 867 (72.0%) cases involved fluid management. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in general characteristics of patients, performers and POCUS parameters between groups(all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that independent factors of treatment changes included ministry of education or university affiliated teaching hospitals (vs.general hospitals, OR=1.891, 95% CI=1.314-2.722, P<0.001 and OR=1.644, 95% CI=1.152-2.347, P=0.006 separately), middle and senior title performers (vs.primary title, OR=2.112, 95% CI=1.358-3.284, P=0.001, OR=3.271, 95% CI=2.129-5.025, P<0.001 separately), mechanical ventilation (vs.without, OR=0.488, 95% CI 0.381-0.626, P<0.001), IVC diameter ≤1 cm (vs.1-2 cm, OR=0.317, 95% CI 0.231-0.434, P<0.001), LV ejecting fraction <50% (vs.≥50%, OR=0.328, 95% CI=0.210-0.512, P<0.001), lung ultrasound score of 6-12 and >12 points(vs.score ≤ 6 points, OR=0.237, 95% CI=0.178-0.315, P<0.001 and OR=0.619, 95% CI=0.457-0.837, P=0.002 separately). Conclusions:POCUS assessment contributes to treatment changes, most of which involves fluid management strategy, in 62.9% critical patients. The independent influencing factors associated with POCUS parameters includes IVC diameter at end-expiratory, LV systolic function and lung ultrasound score. The performers′ title and hospital grade also have a noticeable effect.