Handheld Ultrasound Devices Used by Newly Certified Operators for Pneumonia in the Emergency Department—A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14171921
• Publication Date: 2024-09-02T10:51:17Z
• Authors: Morten Jongshøj L...; Anne Heltborg Kri...; Frida Poppius Kaldan; Mariana Bichuette...; Mathias Amdi Hertz; Jens Juel Specht; Stefan Posth; Mats Jacob Herman...; Søren Helbo Skaarup; Meinhard Reinert ...; Camilla Stræde Spile; Michael Brun Ande...; Ole Graumann; Christian Backer ...; Helene Skjøt-Arkil; Christian B. Laursen
• Keywords: McNemar's test; Gold standard (test)

The diagnostic accuracy of handheld ultrasound (HHUS) devices operated by newly certified operators for pneumonia is unknown. This multicenter study included patients prospectively suspected from February 2021 to 2022 in four emergency departments. index test was a 14-zone focused lung (FLUS) examination, with consolidation air bronchograms as criteria pneumonia. FLUS examinations were performed using HHUS. reference standard computed tomography (CT) and expert diagnosis all medical records. sensitivity specificity chest X-ray (CXR) compared McNemar’s test. Of the 324 scanned patients, 212 (65%) had pneumonia, according diagnosis. 31% (95% CI 26–36) 82% 78–86) experts’ Compared CT, 32% 27–37) 81% 77–85). CXR 66% 61–72) 76% 71–81) 69% 63–74) 68% 62–72). CT diagnosis, HHUS significantly lower when (p < 0.001). higher than = 0.02). exhibited low used operators.