RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Evaluation of the Impact of Pleuropulmonary Ultrasound on the Diagnosis of Dyspnea

This study aims to find out if using a special ultrasound, called pleuropulmonary ultrasound (PUS), can help emergency medical teams in France better understand why someone is feeling very breathless (dyspnea). Breathlessness is a common and serious problem, and it's important to figure out the cause quickly to give the right treatment. There are many different reasons for breathlessness, like pneumonia or heart problems, and each needs specific care. Giving the wrong treatment can be harmful. While PUS is used in hospitals and seems promising, we need more information on how well it works and if it helps patients get appropriate treatment more often when used by emergency doctors outside the hospital. This study hopes to confirm if PUS can improve early diagnosis and treatment for seriously breathless patients.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Hospital, Toulouse

Enrolment target

Start

01 Aug 2025

Estimated completion

01 Feb 2027

Dyspnea

What is this study about?

Imagine feeling like you can't get enough air – that's called breathlessness, or 'dyspnea'. It's a very common and often serious symptom that leads many people to call for emergency help. When emergency teams arrive, they need to quickly figure out what's causing the breathlessness because there are many possibilities, like pneumonia, heart failure, or asthma, and each requires a different type of urgent treatment. Giving the wrong treatment, or not the right one quickly enough, can unfortunately lead to worse outcomes for patients.

This study is looking at a special type of ultrasound called a pleuropulmonary ultrasound (PPU). This ultrasound is already used in hospitals and has shown to be very good at helping doctors diagnose the cause of breathlessness. The question is, can it also be a valuable tool for emergency doctors when they first see patients outside the hospital (for example, at home or at the scene of an accident)?

The main goal of this research is to see if using PPU regularly when emergency teams respond to calls about severe breathlessness helps doctors make a quicker and more accurate diagnosis. Ultimately, the hope is that this will lead to more patients getting the correct, life-saving treatment right from the start, improving how well they recover.

Key takeaways

The study investigates if a special ultrasound helps emergency doctors diagnose breathlessness faster.
Quick and accurate diagnosis of breathlessness is crucial for proper treatment.
Misdiagnosis or delayed treatment can lead to worse patient outcomes.
The ultrasound is already used in hospitals for this purpose and shows promise.
This research focuses on its use by emergency teams outside of a hospital setting in France.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults who are receiving emergency medical care outside of a hospital setting in France. You might be considered if you are dealing with significant breathlessness, which means you are struggling to breathe and might have either a very low level of oxygen in your blood (even if you're on oxygen, your levels might still be low or need oxygen to stay up) or you are breathing very rapidly.

However, there are also some reasons why you might not be able to join the study. If you object to being included in the study, or if the emergency team decides you need to be put on a breathing machine (intubated) immediately, then you won't be able to participate. The study is specifically for situations where there's a moment to assess before such urgent procedures are needed.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you an adult?
Are you currently receiving emergency medical care outside of a hospital?
Are you experiencing significant breathlessness?
Is your oxygen level low or do you need oxygen to keep it up?
Are you breathing very rapidly (more than 25 breaths per minute)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The description does not provide details on what participation would involve in terms of visits, assessments, medication, or follow-up. It focuses on how the pleuropulmonary ultrasound might be used by the emergency medical team during their initial assessment. This suggests that participation would likely involve the emergency doctor using the ultrasound as part of their standard examination and decision-making process. The total duration of the study or an individual's involvement is not specified.

Potential risks and benefits

The main potential benefit of this study is that using the pleuropulmonary ultrasound might help emergency doctors diagnose the cause of your breathlessness more accurately and quickly, which could lead to you getting the most appropriate treatment sooner. This could improve your overall recovery and outcome. As for risks, the study doesn't mention any specific risks associated with the ultrasound itself, as it's a non-invasive imaging technique commonly used in medicine. You always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Pôle Médecine d'Urgence Hôpital Purpan Pavillon Louis Lareng Place Docteur Baylac
Verified postcode
Toulouse, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'dyspnea'?

Dyspnea is the medical term for feeling breathless or having difficulty breathing.

What is a 'pleuropulmonary ultrasound'?

It's a special type of ultrasound used to look at your lungs and the area around them to help doctors understand what might be causing your breathing problems.

Why is this study important?

It's important because it could help emergency doctors quickly figure out why someone is very breathless, leading to faster and more accurate treatment, which can save lives.

Who are emergency medical services ('SMUR')?

SMUR refers to French emergency medical teams, including doctors, who respond to serious medical emergencies outside the hospital.

Will this ultrasound hurt?

No, an ultrasound is generally a painless procedure. It uses sound waves to create images and does not involve radiation.

How to find out more

Pauline Marchetto, PHD

marchetto.p@chu-toulouse.fr 0561772579 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.