POCUS Screening for TAA in Hypertensive Patients in the ED

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA); Aortic Dissection

• Registration Number: NCT06854588
• Lead Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

The investigators are going to recruit hypertensive patients in the emergency department of Prince of Wales Hospital. Point-of-care ultrasound of the aorta and measurements of the aortic diameter will be obtained. Other relevant clinical data will also be obtained for analysis. The primary outcome is the number of patients with a maximum aortic diameter of ≥ 4.5 cm and/or ≥ 50% localized enlarged diameter relative to the adjacent normal segment as indicated by POCUS.

Detailed Description

Investigators trained with point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) will recruit hypertensive patients in the emergency department (ED) of Prince of Wales Hospital. POCUS will be performed using a handheld ultrasound device to visualise the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch and descending aorta. Measurements of the diameter will be obtained from different segments of the thoracic aorta for analysis. The definition of aortic aneurysm is a maximum aortic diameter of ≥ 4.5 cm and/or ≥ 50% localized enlarged diameter relative to the adjacent normal segment as indicated by POCUS. The primary outcome is the prevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) in hypertensive patients in the ED. The secondary outcomes include the number of patients with confirmed TAA as verified by CTA, BMI for all participants, the number of CTA scans conducted for TAA confirmation, the number of surgical interventions performed among TAA patients, the ICU admission rate, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay and mortality, proportion of adequate visualisation of POCUS studies obtained, agreement of aortic diameter measurement between CTA and POCUS, and signs and symptoms of TAA patients presenting to the ED. In addition, the investigators will assess the 28-day all-cause mortality and any advanced imaging done outside the ED.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-25
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Study Start: 2025-03
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-11
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-13
• Primary Completion: 2025-12
• Study Completion: 2026-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1483

Inclusion Criteria

• Adult patients aged ≥ 18 years attending the ED during the study period
• Known history of hypertension or newly diagnosed hypertension in the ED

Exclusion Criteria

• Known history of aortic aneurysm or dissection
• Previous thoracic aortic interventions or endovascular stenting
• Patients in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Traumatic patients
• Patients refuse to participate the study

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
number of patients with a dilated aorta	Day 1	is the number of patients with a maximum aortic diameter of ≥ 4.5 cm and/or ≥ 50% localized enlarged diameter relative to the adjacent normal segment as indicated by POCUS

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
number of patients with confirmed TAA	through study completion, an average of 1 year	number of patients with confirmed TAA as verified by CTA

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Prince of Wales Hospital; 🇭🇰 Sha Tin, NT, Hong Kong