Table 2. Emergency department (ED) management.
| Total population (n=123) | Phase 1 (n=69) | Phase 2 (n=54) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imaging, n (%) | |||
| Chest x-ray | 98 (79.7) | 65 (94.2) | 33 (61.1) |
| Thoracic CTa | 40 (32.5) | 21 (30.4) | 19 (35.2) |
| Abdominal CT | 14 (11.4) | 5 (7.2) | 9 (16.7) |
| Abdominal ultrasound | 4 (3.3) | 4 (5.8) | 0 (0) |
| Transthoracic echocardiography | 3 (2.4) | 2 (2.9) | 1 (1.9) |
| POCUSb by senior physician | 47 (38.2) | 24 (34.8) | 23 (42.6) |
| ED diagnosis, n (%) | |||
| Pneumonia | 42 (34.1) | 26 (37.7) | 16 (29.6) |
| Acute heart failure | 41 (33.3) | 19 (27.5) | 22 (40.7) |
| Acute exacerbation of COPDc | 13 (10.6) | 9 (13) | 4 (7.4) |
| Nonpulmonary sepsis | 11 (8.9) | 8 (11.6) | 3 (5.6) |
| Pulmonary embolism | 5 (4.1) | 1 (1.4) | 4 (7.4) |
| Pericardial effusion | 3 (2.4) | 0 (0) | 3 (5.6) |
| Cardiogenic shock | 2 (1.6) | 1 (1.4) | 1 (1.9) |
| Other diagnosis | 6 (4.9) | 5 (7.2) | 1 (1.9) |
| Specific ED therapies, n (%)d | |||
| Antibiotics | 64 (52) | 39 (56.5) | 25 (46.3) |
| Diuretic therapy | 49 (39.8) | 24 (34.8) | 25 (46.3) |
| Bronchodilators | 27 (22) | 18 (26.1) | 9 (16.7) |
| Noninvasive ventilation | 25 (20.3) | 15 (21.7) | 10 (18.5) |
| Steroids | 17 (13.8) | 10 (14.5) | 7 (13) |
| Anticoagulation | 14 (11.4) | 5 (7.2) | 9 (16.7) |
| Vasopressors | 12 (9.8) | 6 (8.7) | 6 (11.1) |
| Patient destination after ED stay, n (%) | |||
| Ward | 58 (47.2) | 36 (52.2) | 22 (40.7) |
| ICUe | 58 (47.2) | 30 (43.5) | 28 (51.9) |
| Other hospital (ICU or ward) | 5 (4.1) | 2 (2.9) | 3 (5.6) |
| Home | 1 (0.8) | 1 (1.4) | 0 (0) |
| Death in the ED | 1 (0.8) | 0 (0) | 1 (1.9) |
a
CT: computed tomography.
b
POCUS: point-of-care ultrasound.
c
COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
d
Some patients may have received more than 1 therapy.
e
ICU: intensive care unit.