Bedside point-of-care ultrasound to improve diagnosis of chest and belly pain in the emergency department
PoCUS Impact on the Diagnostic Approach for Thoracic and Abdominal Pain in the ED
This will test whether point-of-care (bedside) ultrasound helps doctors make better diagnostic and management decisions for adults who come to the emergency department with chest or abdominal pain.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 406 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brussels) |
| Trial ID | NCT06827730 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This multicenter prospective interventional protocol enrolls adults presenting to participating emergency departments with thoracic or abdominal pain of less than 72 hours. Clinicians will perform point-of-care ultrasound as part of the clinical exam, and an independent adjudication committee of three blinded reviewers will compare diagnostic choices and planned management with and without the PoCUS information. The study focuses on how PoCUS changes the diagnostic approach, including differential diagnoses, treatment selection, and additional tests ordered. Patients with technical barriers to ultrasound, newly discovered pregnancy, or inability to complete one-month follow-up are excluded.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults older than 17 who present to a participating ED within 72 hours of thoracic or abdominal pain, can provide informed consent, and can complete one-month follow-up are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who are found to be pregnant during emergency care, those with reasons that make abdominal ultrasound impossible, or those who cannot be followed up at one month are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PoCUS could speed more accurate bedside decision-making, leading to faster appropriate treatment and fewer unnecessary tests for people with chest or belly pain.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows PoCUS improves detection of specific conditions (for example free fluid, pneumothorax, or biliary disease) and can speed decision-making, but few multicenter prospective trials have measured its effect on the overall diagnostic strategy.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * \> 17 years * Thoracic or abdominal pain for less than 72 hours * Signed informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Reasons making abdominal ultrasound impossible * Discovery of a pregnancy during emergency care * Follow-up impossible at one month
Where this trial is running
Brussels
- Cliniques universitaires Saint Luc — Brussels, Belgium (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Florence MV Dupriez, MD, PhD — Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
- Study coordinator: Florence MV Dupriez, MD, PhD
- Email: florence.dupriez@saintluc.uclouvain.be
- Phone: +32 2 7647884
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.