TY - JOUR T1 - Lung ultrasound as an ambulatory investigation tool in respiratory medicine: An audit of clinical practice JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P645 AU - Giuseppe Francesco Sferrazza Papa AU - Giulia Michela Pellegrino AU - Paolo Carlucci AU - Michele Mondoni AU - Elena Parazzini AU - Fabiano Di Marco AU - Francesca Reali AU - Paola Fracasso AU - Massimo Verga AU - Sara Job AU - Marco Grattieri AU - Stefano Centanni Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P645.abstract N2 - INTRODUCTIONLung ultrasound is an imaging tool which is increasingly used by nonradiology physicians in the intensive care unit and the emergency department. However, there is a lack of data concerning lung ultrasound directly provided by the pulmonologist during ambulatory investigations.METHODSThe study is an audit of clinical practice of the respiratory diseases ambulatory of a tertiary care university hospital. Consecutive lung ultrasounds, performed by pulmonologists, were prospectively recorded from April 2011 to February 2012. The main indication, methods and clinical consequences were registered on a web-database.RESULTS8 experienced operators performed 112 exams on 92 patients (aged 66+/-4 years, mean+/-sd, 42 females). The mean duration of the exam was 8+/-2 minutes. B-mode was used in all patients, while functions such as M-mode and Color-Doppler were needed in 10% and 4%. Convex probe was the most used as a single transducer (82% of the cases); linear probe was used in association with the convex or as unique probe in 22% of the exams. The main indications were: pleural effusion (32%), thoracentesis (25%), lung consolidation (12%), pneumothorax (10%), dyspnoea (8%), acute exacerbation of COPD (6%), heart failure (4%), and diaphragm dysfunction (2%). The pulmonologist who executed the exam reported that in 72% of the cases lung ultrasound had a clinical impact, even if minor, on patient management.CONCLUSIONSThe execution of lung ultrasound is a rapid and feasible imaging tool which may often provide clinically relevant data during ambulatory consultations. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the impact of lung ultrasound on outpatients management. ER -