Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
Study | Population | Index test (thoracic POCUS) | Reference test(s) | Funding sources | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Authors | Design | Sample size (no. of images evaluated) | Setting | Presentation | Target condition | Operator(s) | Device | Method | Â | Â |
Included in meta-analysis | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Quick et al. [3] | Prospective observational | 149 | In-flight | Trauma (n = 136) and medical (n = 13) | Pneumothorax | Flight nurses and paramedics | Sonosite M-Turbo | Not specified | CT, X-ray, or clinical signs | None declared |
Ronaldson et al. [5] | Observational | 19 | Ambulance (n = 5), helicopter (n = 3), roadside (n = 3), fixed wing (n = 1) | Trauma (50%) and medical (50%) | Pneumothorax | Flight nurses and paramedics | GE v-scan dual probe | 2nd intercostal space | Expert review of original images | Not applicable |
Yates et al. [6] | Prospective observational | 190 | On scene (35%), in-flight (51%), both (14%) | Trauma | Pneumothorax | Flight nurses and paramedics | Sonosite M-Turbo | eFAST | CT, or trauma surgeon’s operative report | None declared |
Oliver et al. [1] | Retrospective observational | 662 | On scene, in ambulance, or in helicopter | Trauma | Pneumothorax | Physicians (66%)/ paramedics (34%) | GE v-scan dual probe and Sonosite i-Look | Not specified | CT | None declared |
Press et al. [2] | Prospective observational | 489 | On scene and in-flight | Trauma | Pneumothorax | Flight nurses and paramedics | Sonosite M-Turbo | eFAST | CT, X-ray, or clinical signs | Sonosite, Inc |
Ketelaars et al. [22] | Retrospective observational | 59 | On scene and in-flight | Trauma and cardiac arrest | Pneumothorax | Physicians | Sonosite MicroMaxx | PREP (comparable to eFAST) | CT | None declared |
Roline et al. [4] | Prospective observational | 81 | In-flight | Medical and trauma | Pneumothorax | Not specified | Sonosite MicroMaxx | 2nd intercostal space | Expert review of original images | None declared |
Lyon et al. [24] | Prospective observational | 64 | In-flight (using a model to simulate plural interface) | Simulated | Pneumothorax | Not specified | GE Logique | M-mode imaging | Expert review of original images | None declared |
Not included in meta-analysis | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Scharonow et al. [25] | Prospective observational | 71 | On scene | Medical (68%) and trauma (31.3%) | Pneumothorax | Physicians | Sonosite MicroMaxx | Pre-hospital lung ultrasound (PLUS) exanimation | CT, ultrasound (ED) or X-ray | No funding received |
Neesse et al. [23] | Prospective observational | 56 | On scene | Medical | Pneumothorax | Physicians | Sonosite MicroMaxx | Anterior intercostal spaces two-to-four views | CT, ultrasound (ED) or X-ray | None declared |
Khalil et al. [26] | RCT | 60 | Pre-hospital simulation | Trauma | Tension pneumothorax | Paramedics | SonoSim | Not specified | Pre-programmed simulated presentation of pneumothorax | None declared |
Snaith et al. [33] | Prospective observational | 36 | ED versus stationary ambulance versus moving ambulance | Simulation—healthy subjects | Pneumothorax | Physicians and sonographers | Sonosite Nanomaxx | EFAST | Expert review of original images | Sponsored by the University of Bradford |