Point-of-care ultrasound to help diagnose sudden shortness of breath
Official title: Added Diagnostic Value of Point of Care Ultrasound in Acute Dyspnea: a Prospective Observational Study
Run by Region Skane · NCT05782478 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether quick bedside ultrasound used by emergency doctors helps identify the cause of sudden shortness of breath in adults with low oxygen or fast breathing.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 160 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Region Skane Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Helsingborg, Skåne County and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 9, 2023 |
| Main results expected | January 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | March 28, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | July 16, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT05782478 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adult ED patients triaged at the highest or second-highest priority who present with shortness of breath, oxygen saturation <90% on room air, or respiratory rate >25/min with oxygen saturation <95% on room air.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who require immediate life-saving interventions that would be delayed by study procedures or patients discharged from the ED without admission are unlikely to benefit from the intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Dyspnea is a common and time-sensitive problem in the Emergency Department that can have many causes. In this prospective observational study, emergency medicine specialists and residents at two Swedish EDs will receive brief training and certification in a structured dyspnea POCUS protocol. Trained clinicians will perform focused lung (8 or 14 zones), cardiac (subcostal, parasternal, apical four-chamber) and inferior vena cava scans, and diagnostic accuracy will be compared before and after POCUS use. The study enrolls adults triaged as highest or second-highest priority who meet prespecified oxygenation or respiratory rate criteria at the Lund and Helsingborg sites.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to faster and more accurate ED diagnoses so patients get the right treatment sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown strong diagnostic performance of POCUS for conditions like heart failure and pneumonia, but most were performed by highly experienced ultrasound operators rather than a broad mix of ED physicians.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Adult patients presenting to the Emergency Department within the highest or second highest triage category and any of the following * Presenting with shortness of breath * Oxygen saturation less than 90 % on room air * Respiratory rate more than 25 breaths per minute and oxygen saturation less than 95 % on room air Exclusion Criteria: * Inclusion in the study will delay urgent interventions * Patient is discharge from the Emergency Department (without hospital admission)
Where it's running
-
Department of Emergency Medicine, Helsingborg Hospital
Helsingborg, Skåne County, Sweden Recruiting -
Department of Emergency Medicine, Skåne University Hospital
Lund, Skåne County, Sweden Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jakob Lundager Forberg, PhD,MD — Region Skåne Sweden
- Study coordinator: Jakob Lundager Forberg, PhD,MD
- Email: jakob.lundager-forberg@skane.se
- Phone: 0046424061000
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.