Background Previous trials have suggested that point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for emergency department (ED) patients with dyspnoea increases the proportion of patients discharged within 24 h. We aimed to assess whether this effect could be confirmed.
Methods This trial was a randomised controlled trial in 10 Danish EDs. Adult patients presenting to the ED with dyspnoea as chief complaint were randomised to the addition or omission of focused lung and cardiac ultrasound.
The primary outcome was the proportion of patients discharged alive within 24 h. Secondary outcomes included overall hospital length of stay, chest imaging utilisation, and 72 h alive and revisit-free.
Results Among 674 patients who were randomised between 25 January 2023 and 23 August 2024, 663 were included in the analysis. The primary outcome occurred in 141 (42.6%) out of 331 patients in the intervention group versus 151 (45.5%) out of 332 in the control group (risk difference - 2.9, 95% CI - 10.4 - 4.7; p=0.45).