Evaluating the Use of Prehospital Lung Ultrasound in EMS: A Multicenter Pilot Study (NCT07549334) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Evaluating the Use of Prehospital Lung Ultrasound in EMS: A Multicenter Pilot Study
United States1,000 participantsStarted 2026-08
Plain-language summary
The goal of this prospective nonrandomized study is to determine if prehospital lung ultrasound findings result in a change in patient management. This study will look at how lung ultrasound exam improves diagnosis of respiratory distress in patients being treated by Emergency Medical Services, such as patients with heart failure. Additional questions include:
* How well can paramedics obtain and interpret ultrasound images?
* How does ultrasound use change treatment received by patients?
* How does ultrasound use impact patient outcomes? Participants will receive a lung ultrasound exam, but otherwise receive standard evaluation and care. Patients who receive ultrasound will be compared to those who did not receive ultrasound for logistical reasons and patients from before the use of ultrasound. Ultrasound will not be withheld from any patient for the purposes of the study.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patient treated by Emergency Medical Services
* Complaint of dyspnea
At least one of the following:
* Oxygen saturation \<94% on room air
* Abnormal lung sounds
* Increased work of breathing
* Pedal edema
* Orthopnea
Exclusion Criteria:
* Pediatric patients (\<18)
* Traumatic etiology
* Cardiac arrest at any point prehospitally
* No ultrasound-trained paramedic involved in patient's care
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial involves paramedics doing lung ultrasounds in the ambulance before reaching the hospital — how might participating in this kind of feasibility study actually affect my care if I'm having a CHF or pulmonary edema emergency?
2Since this study is measuring how often the prehospital ultrasound diagnosis matches what the hospital later confirms, does that mean the ultrasound results might not be used to guide my immediate treatment, and could that affect my outcomes?
3The trial isn't recruiting yet — given how quickly my condition can change, is it realistic to expect this study to be available when I might need it, or should we be focused on other options now?
4Since this is listed as a feasibility study with no defined phase, does that mean it's mainly testing whether the process works rather than proving it helps patients — and what does that mean for what I'd actually gain by being part of it?
5Are there standard diagnostic or treatment protocols already in place for CHF and pulmonary edema in the prehospital setting that I should know about, and how would participating in this study compare to receiving that standard care?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Frequency with which prehospital lung ultrasound findings result in a change in patient management by EMS
Timeframe: From time of patient encounter to patient handoff at the hospital. (anticipated average of one hour)
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07549334
SponsorRutgers, The State University of New Jersey