An interventional study of Ultrasound pre-hospital care in Acute Dyspnea, sponsored by Central Hospital, Nancy, France. Not yet recruiting at 11 sites in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-01.
Sponsored by Central Hospital, Nancy, France · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic
This multicentre, cluster-randomised, stepped-wedge clinical trial aims to assess whether an intervention designed to implement an ultrasound-guided pre-hospital care pathway for the management of acute dyspnea would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the mobile emergency medical service (SMUR) compared with standard care.
The order in which centres switch to the intervention (use of ultrasound) will be randomized. The study will begin with an initial 2-month period during which no centre will use ultrasound (standard care). Thereafter, two centers will switch to the intervention phase, and every two months, a further two centres will in turn move into the intervention phase. By the end of the study, all centres will have used ultrasound for at least 2 months.
A total of 800 adults patients treated for acute dyspnea by the SMUR and meeting the inclusion criteria will be enrolled. Each patient's management will be determined by the study phase in effect at their centre at the time of enrolment (control phase without ultrasound or intervention phase with ultrasound).
The appropriateness of treatments administered during SMUR interventions will be compared between the period with ultrasound (intervention phase) and the period without ultrasound (control pahse).
Central Hospital, Nancy, France is the lead sponsor of 778 studies on the registry; 183 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Standard management of acute dyspnea by the SMUR.
the period during which ultrasound is being implemented for the management of acute dyspnea by the SMUR team.
Diagnostic Test: Ultrasound pre-hospital care
Use of Ultrasound to guide pre-hospital care for the management of acute dyspnea by the Mobile Emergency Medical Service (SMUR).
Score for appropriate treatments administered during the prehospital emergency medical team (SMUR) intervention.
1\) This outcome ranges from 0 to 1 (0 = completely inappropriate treatment; 1 = appropriate and effective/minimal treatment). 2) This outcome requires a review of the final diagnosis of acute dyspnea cases treated by the SMUR, as well as an assessment of whether each treatment administered in the SMUR ambulance was appropriate. This review will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team without knowledge of the randomization group.
Time frame: Baseline (at the time of the SMUR's intervention).
Clinical factors evaluated: diagnosis made in the SMUR ambulance, considered to be consistent with the final diagnosis upon admission.
Time frame: Baseline (at the time of the SMUR's intervention).
Clinical factors evaluated: all-cause mortality.
Time frame: At 30 days, 90 days and 5 years.
Clinical factors evaluated: readmission for acute dyspnea (following the comittee's decision).
Time frame: At 30 days, 90 days and 5 years.
Clinical factors evaluated: consultations with general practitioners.
Number of consultations with general practitioners.
Time frame: At 30 days, 90 days and 5 years.
Clinical factors evaluated: consultations with specialists.
Number of consultations with specialists.
Time frame: At 30 days, 90 days and 5 years.
Clinical factors evaluated: prescriptions for medication.
Number of prescriptions for medication dispensed.
Time frame: At 30 days, 90 days and 5 years.
Clinical factors evaluated: clinical laboratory tests.
Number of clinical laboratory tests carried out.
Time frame: At 30 days, 90 days and 5 years.
Clinical factors evaluated: readmissions for causes other than acute dyspnea.
Time frame: At 30 days, 90 days and 5 years.
Institutional elements assessed : time taken for the SMUR to initiate appropriate pre-hospital treatment.
Time frame: Baseline (at the time of the SMUR's intervention).
Institutional elements assessed : duration of SMUR interventions.
This outcome is defined as the time interval between the arrival of the SMUR team on scene and the patient's transfer to the next level of care (emergency department or specialized unit).
Time frame: Baseline (at the time of the SMUR's intervention).
Institutional elements assessed : proportion of patients admitted directly (without going through the emergency department) to specialzed units (primarily cardiology, pulmonology, cardiac or respiratory intensive care, and critical care)
Time frame: Baseline (at the time of the SMUR's intervention).
Institutional elements assessed : hospital length of stay following intervention by the SMUR.
Hospital length of stay is defined as the time interval from the end of SMUR care to hospital discharge either to the patient's home or to an outpatient facility.
Time frame: Baseline.
Factors relevant to an implementation analysis: the proportion of ultrasound scans performed by the SMUR team in cases of acute dyspnea during the "ultrasound" period.
Time frame: Baseline.
Factors relevant to an implementation analysis: the level of agreement between the interpretation of ultrasound images by staff trained at the completion of their initial training and at 12 months, and those of an expert reference standard.
Time frame: Baseline (initial training) and at 12 months.
Factors relevant to an implementation analysis: the satisfaction of emergency doctors with the implementation of the ultrasound algorithm.
The satisfaction will be assessed using a Likert scale (ranging from 1 to 5, with "1" representing the worst result and "5" the best).
Time frame: At 12 months.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Central Hospital, Nancy, France