Effect of Focused Cardiac Ultrasound in Combination with Lung Ultrasound on Critically Ill Patients: A Multicenter Observational Study in China

Objective Focused cardiac ultrasound(FCU)and lung ultrasound(LU)are increasingly being used in critically ill patients.This study aimed to investigate the effect of FCU in combination with LU on these patients and to determine if the timing of ultrasound examination was associated with treatment change.Methods This is a multicenter cross-sectional observational study.Consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)were screened for enrollment.FCU and LU were performed within the first 24 h,and treatment change was proposed by the performer based on the ultrasound results and other clinical conditions.Results Among the 992 patients included,502 were examined within 6 h of ICU admission(early phase group),and 490 were examined after 6 h of admission(later phase group).The early phase group and the later phase group had similar proportions of treatment change(48.8%vs.49.0%,χ^(2)=0.003,P=0.956).In the multivariable analysis,admission for respiratory failure was an independent variable associated with treatment change,with an odds ratio(OR)of 2.357[95%confidence interval(CI):1.284-4.326,P=0.006];the timing of examination was not associated with treatment change(OR=0.725,95%CI:0.407-1.291,P=0.275).Conclusions FCU in combination with LU,whether performed during the early phase or later phase,had a significant impact on the treatment of critically ill patients.Patients with respiratory failure were more likely to experience treatment change after the ultrasound examination.

A cross-sectional study of acute cor pulmonale in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients in China

Background:Increased right ventricle afterload during acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)may induce acute cor pulmonale(ACP),which is associated with a poor clinical outcome.Echocardiography is now considered as a rapid and non-invasive tool for diagnosis of ACP.The aims of this study were to investigate the morbidity and mortality rates of ACP in ARDS patients in intensive care units(ICUs)across the mainland of China and to determine the severity and prognosis of ACP in ARDS patients through an ultrasound protocol(TRIP).And the association between ACP related factors and the ICU mortality will be revealed.Methods:This study is a multicenter and cross-sectional study in China which will include ICU participants when diagnosed as ARDS.The ultrasound protocol,known as the TRIP,is proposed as severity assessment for ACP,which includes tricuspid regurgitation velocity(T),right ventricular size(R),inferior vena cava diameter fluctuation(I),and pulmonary regurgitation velocity(P).The 28-day mortality,ICU/hospital mortality,the length of stay in ICU,mechanical ventilation days,hemodynamic parameters and lab parameters of liver function and kidney function are all recorded.Discussion:This large-scale study would give a sufficient epidemic investigation of ACP in ARDS patients in China.In addition,with the TRIP protocol,we expect that we could stratify ACP with more echocardiography parameters.