Summary

Diagnostic algorithm for urgent causes of dyspnea based on lung auscultation and ultrasound: The CLINIC-LUS Prospective Study

Davide Bernaudo1,2, María de los Ángeles Guerrero-León3, Milagros Rodríguez-Cortés4, David Tártalo-Hernández4, Rosario de Mora-Alfaro4, Lamberto Landete Martín4, Francesco Ronchetti5, Miriam Motilla- Fraile6,7, Neus Robert- Boter1, María Jesús Domínguez-Tordable1, Anna Carreres-Molas1, Antonia Segura- Egea1, Sebastián Videla8,9, Ramón Nogué-Bou10

Affiliation of the authors

1Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain. 2Departamento de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. 3Servicio de Medicina Interna, Universidad de Antequera, Antequera, Málaga. Spain. 4Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital de Albacete, Albacete, Spain. 5Servicio de Urgencias, Hospital Universitario Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. 6Servicio Médico de Emergencias de Madrid (SUMMA 112), Madrid, Spain. 7Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain. 8Área de Soporte a la Investigación Clínica, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain. 9Departamento de Farmacología, Terapia y Toxicología, Universidad Autónoma di Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain. 10Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, Spain.

DOI

Icono PDF Download Article

Quote

Bernaudo D, Guerrero-León MA, Rodríguez-Cortés M, Tártalo-Hernández D, de Mora-Alfaro R, Landete Martín L, et al. Diagnostic algorithm for urgent causes of dyspnea based on lung auscultation and ultrasound: The CLINIC-LUS Prospective Study. Emergencias. 2026;38:123-30

Summary

Objective.

Dyspnea is a frequent reason for consultation in emergency departments (EDs). Ultrasound artifacts generated within lung tissue can be interpreted for diagnostic purposes. The primary endpoint of this study was to provide evidence on the feasibility and applicability of the CLINIC-LUS algorithm, based on lung auscultation and lung ultrasound, for diagnosing causes of acute dyspnea in adult patients presenting to hospital.

Methods.

We conducted a prospective, multicenter feasibility study in patients evaluated for acute dyspnea in EDs. Lung auscultation and lung ultrasound patterns were assessed using a 12-point ultrasound protocol. Feasibility was evaluated by the time (in minutes) required to perform lung ultrasound and by the investigator’s perception. Diagnostic accuracy (percentage of correct diagnoses) and the Cohen kappa coefficient for agreement of the algorithm were calculated.

Results.

A total of 95 patients with acute dyspnea presenting to EDs from January 2024 through June 2025 were included and eventually analyzed. The time required to perform lung ultrasound [median (range)] was 12 (9 16) minutes. Investigators unanimously reported that use of the CLINIC-LUS algorithm was straightforward and did not pose difficulties in clinical practice. Diagnostic accuracy was 78.1% (95% CI, 67.5–86.4). The kappa coefficient was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.52–0.82).

Conclusions.

Integrating physical examination with lung ultrasound into a single algorithm for diagnosing causes of acute dyspnea in the ED is feasible in clinical practice.

 

, , , ,

More articles by the authors

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.