From Compression to Diagnosis Identification of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Using Point-Of-Care Ultrasound in the Emergency Department of Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63682/jns.v14i32S.8223Keywords:
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome, Point-of-care ultrasound, Emergency department, diagnostic accuracyAbstract
Background: Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS) presents a diagnostic challenge in emergency settings due to its potentially life-threatening nature and the limitations of traditional imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Objective: This study's goal was to assess point-of-care ultrasound's (POCUS) diagnostic performance in detecting SVCS in the emergency room of a Pakistani tertiary care hospital.
Methodology: This research evaluated 320 patients who presented to the emergency room with suspected SVCS. It was a prospective observational study was out at Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta during May 2023 to June 2024. Clinical assessments, demographic records, and POCUS evaluations for SVCS symptoms were among the data collected. A statistical comparison was performed between POCUS diagnostic metrics and traditional imaging criteria.
Results: This research investigates the effectiveness of POCUS in the diagnosis of SVCS in 320 patients who visit a Pakistani emergency room. According to the results, POCUS has an overall diagnostic accuracy of 73.85%, making it useful in diagnosing SVCS. Furthermore, POCUS's great sensitivity (94.55%) and specificity (60.49%) are shown in comparisons with CT and MRI, with a statistically significant difference validated by a low p-value (< 0.0001). Facial edema (53.75%) and dyspnea (61.56%) are common clinical manifestations. There are further complications mentioned, including venous thrombosis (9.38%) and airway impairment (12.50%). These results highlight POCUS's validity and reliability as an important diagnostic tool for SVCS in emergency situations.
Conclusion: Our study highlights the diagnostic significance of POCUS in detecting SVCS in the ER, supporting its inclusion in routine care guidelines and more investigation to confirm its applicability in other clinical contexts.
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