Contribution of Pulmonary Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Acute Heart Failure (AHF) in Patients Admitted to Emergency Department (ED) for Dyspnea

Dyspnea is one of the most distressing situations for the patient . Emergency cases do not always present in conditions that are ideal for immediate diagnosis, which sometimes compromises outcome. Physical examination, laboratory findings and radiography are imperfect, resulting in a need for sophisticated test results that delay management.

Lung ultrasonography is becoming a standard tool in critical cases in the ED.

the investigators aim to perform ultrasonography on consecutive patients admitted to the ICU with dyspnea, comparing lung ultrasonography results on initial presentation with the final diagnosis by the ICU team.

Three items were assessed: artifacts (horizontal A lines or vertical B lines indicating interstitial syndrome), lung sliding, and alveolar consolidation and/or pleural effusion, these items were grouped to assess ultrasound profiles.

This study assesses the potential of lung ultrasonography to diagnose heart failure.