Browsing by Author "Nti, Benjamin"
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Item Artificial Intelligence-Augmented Pediatric Lung POCUS: A Pilot Study of Novice Learners(Wiley, 2022) Nti, Benjamin; Lehmann, Amalia S.; Haddad, Aida; Kennedy, Sarah K.; Russell, Frances M.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineObjective: Respiratory symptoms are among the most common chief complaints of pediatric patients in the emergency department (ED). Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) outperforms conventional chest X-ray and is user-dependent, which can be challenging to novice ultrasound (US) users. We introduce a novel concept using artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced pleural sweep to generate complete panoramic views of the lungs, and then assess its accuracy among novice learners (NLs) to identify pneumonia. Methods: Previously healthy 0- to 17-year-old patients presenting to a pediatric ED with cardiopulmonary chief complaint were recruited. NLs received a 1-hour training on traditional lung POCUS and the AI-assisted software. Two POCUS-trained experts interpreted the images, which served as the criterion standard. Both expert and learner groups were blinded to each other's interpretation, patient data, and outcomes. Kappa was used to determine agreement between POCUS expert interpretations. Results: Seven NLs, with limited to no prior POCUS experience, completed examinations on 32 patients. The average patient age was 5.53 years (±1.07). The median scan time of 7 minutes (minimum-maximum 3-43; interquartile 8). Three (8.8%) patients were diagnosed with pneumonia by criterion standard. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for NLs AI-augmented interpretation were 66.7% (confidence interval [CI] 9.4-99.1%), 96.5% (CI 82.2-99.9%), and 93.7% (CI 79.1-99.2%). The average image quality rating was 2.94 (±0.16) out of 5 across all lung fields. Interrater reliability between expert sonographers was high with a kappa coefficient of 0.8. Conclusion: This study shows that AI-augmented lung US for diagnosing pneumonia has the potential to increase accuracy and efficiency.Item Bedside lung ultrasound for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children presenting to an emergency department in a resource-limited setting(BMC, 2023-01-09) Amatya, Yogendra; Russell, Frances M.; Rijal, Suraj; Adhikari, Sunil; Nti, Benjamin; House, Darlene R.; Emergency Medicine, School of MedicineBackground: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an effective tool for diagnosing pneumonia; however, this has not been well studied in resource-limited settings where pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of bedside LUS for diagnosis of pneumonia in children presenting to an emergency department (ED) in a resource-limited setting. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of children presenting to an ED with respiratory complaints conducted in Nepal. We included all children under 5 years of age with cough, fever, or difficulty breathing who received a chest radiograph. A bedside LUS was performed and interpreted by the treating clinician on all children prior to chest radiograph. The criterion standard was radiographic pneumonia, diagnosed by a panel of radiologists using the Chest Radiography in Epidemiological Studies methodology. The primary outcome was sensitivity and specificity of LUS for the diagnosis of pneumonia. All LUS images were later reviewed and interpreted by a blinded expert sonographer. Results: Three hundred and sixty-six children were enrolled in the study. The median age was 16.5 months (IQR 22) and 57.3% were male. Eighty-four patients (23%) were diagnosed with pneumonia by chest X-ray. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios for clinician's LUS interpretation was 89.3% (95% CI 81-95), 86.1% (95%CI 82-90), 6.4, and 0.12 respectively. LUS demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy for pneumonia with an area under the curve of 0.88 (95% CI 0.83-0.92). Interrater agreement between clinician and expert ultrasound interpretation was excellent (k = 0.85). Conclusion: Bedside LUS when used by ED clinicians had good accuracy for diagnosis of pneumonia in children in a resource-limited setting.Item Design and implementation of a basic and global point of care ultrasound (POCUS) certification curriculum for emergency medicine faculty(Springer, 2022-02-19) Russell, Frances M.; Kennedy, Sarah K.; Rood, Loren K.; Nti, Benjamin; Herbert, Audrey; Rutz, Matt A.; Palmer, Megan; Ferre, Robinson M.; Emergency Medicine, School of MedicinePoint of care ultrasound (POCUS) use in the emergency department is associated with improved patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction. When used for procedural guidance, it has been shown to increase first pass success and decrease complications. As of 2012, ultrasound has been identified as a core skill required for graduating emergency medicine (EM) residents. Despite this, only a minority of EM faculty who trained prior to 2008 are credentialed in POCUS. Half of all EM training programs in the United States have less than 50% of their faculty credentialed to perform and teach POCUS to learners. As the use of POCUS continues to grow in medicine, it is especially important to have a pathway for faculty to attain competence and become credentialed in POCUS. The goal of this paper was to outline an implementation process of a curriculum designed to credential EM faculty in POCUS.Item Establishing the international research priorities for pediatric emergency medicine point‐of‐care ultrasound: A modified Delphi study(Wiley, 2022) Snelling, Peter J.; Shefrin, Allan E.; Moake, Matthew M.; Bergmann, Kelly R.; Constantine, Erika; Deanehan, J. Kate; Dessie, Almaz S.; Elkhunovich, Marsha A.; Gold, Delia L.; Kornblith, Aaron E.; Lin-Martore, Margaret; Nti, Benjamin; Pade, Kathryn H.; Parri, Niccolò; Sivitz, Adam; Lam, Samuel H. F.; Pediatrics, School of MedicineBackground: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) Point-of-care Ultrasound (POCUS) Network (P2Network) was established in 2014 to provide a platform for international collaboration among experts, including multicenter research. The objective of this study was to use expert consensus to identify and prioritize PEM POCUS topics, to inform future collaborative multicenter research. Methods: Online surveys were administered in a two-stage, modified Delphi study. A steering committee of 16 PEM POCUS experts was identified within the P2Network, with representation from the United States, Canada, Italy, and Australia. We solicited the participation of international PEM POCUS experts through professional society mailing lists, research networks, social media, and "word of mouth." After each round, responses were refined by the steering committee before being reissued to participants to determine the ranking of all the research questions based on means and to identify the high-level consensus topics. The final stage was a modified Hanlon process of prioritization round (HPP), which emphasized relevance, impact, and feasibility. Results: Fifty-four eligible participants (16.6%) provided 191 items to Survey 1 (Round 1). These were refined and consolidated into 52 research questions by the steering committee. These were issued for rating in Survey 2 (Round 2), which had 45 participants. At the completion of Round 2, all questions were ranked with six research questions reaching high-level consensus. Thirty-one research questions with mean ratings above neutral were selected for the HPP round. Highly ranked topics included clinical applications of POCUS to evaluate and manage children with shock, cardiac arrest, thoracoabdominal trauma, suspected cardiac failure, atraumatic limp, and intussusception. Conclusions: This consensus study has established a research agenda to inform future international multicenter PEM POCUS trials. This study has highlighted the ongoing need for high-quality evidence for PEM POCUS applications to guide clinical practice.Item External validation of the ultrasound competency assessment tool(Wiley, 2023-06-22) Russell, Frances M.; Herbert, Audrey; Kennedy, Sarah; Nti, Benjamin; Powell, Mollie; Davis, Jean; Ferre, Robinson; Emergency Medicine, School of MedicineObjective: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a core component of emergency medicine (EM) residency training. No standardized competency-based tool has gained widespread acceptance. The ultrasound competency assessment tool (UCAT) was recently derived and validated. We sought to externally validate the UCAT in a 3-year EM residency program. Methods: This was a convenience sample of PGY-1 to -3 residents. Utilizing the UCAT and an entrustment scale, as described in the original study, six different evaluators split into two groups graded residents in a simulated scenario involving a patient with blunt trauma and hypotension. Residents were asked to perform and interpret a focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) examination and apply the findings to the simulated scenario. Demographics, prior POCUS experience, and self-assessed competency were collected. Each resident was evaluated simultaneously by three different evaluators with advanced ultrasound training utilizing the UCAT and entrustment scales. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between evaluators was calculated for each assessment domain; analysis of variance was used to compare UCAT performance and PGY level and prior POCUS experience. Results: Thirty-two residents (14 PGY-1, nine PGY-2, and nine PGY-3) completed the study. Overall, ICC was 0.9 for preparation, 0.57 for image acquisition, 0.3 for image optimization, and 0.46 for clinical integration. There was moderate correlation between number of FAST examinations performed and entrustment and UCAT composite scores. There was poor correlation between self-reported confidence and entrustment and UCAT composite scores. Conclusions: We had mixed results in our attempt to externally validate the UCAT with poor correlation between faculty and moderate to good correlation with faculty to diagnostic sonographer. More work is needed to validate the UCAT before adoption.Item Impact of bedside lung ultrasound on physician clinical decision-making in an emergency department in Nepal(BMC, 2020) House, Darlene R.; Amatya, Yogendra; Nti, Benjamin; Russell, Frances M.; Emergency Medicine, School of MedicineBackground Lung ultrasound is an effective tool for the evaluation of undifferentiated dyspnea in the emergency department. Impact of lung ultrasound on clinical decisions for the evaluation of patients with dyspnea in resource-limited settings is not well-known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of lung ultrasound on clinical decision-making for patients presenting with dyspnea to an emergency department in the resource-limited setting of Nepal. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional study of clinicians working in the Patan Hospital Emergency Department was performed. Clinicians performed lung ultrasounds on patients presenting with dyspnea and submitted ultrasounds with their pre-test diagnosis, lung ultrasound interpretation, post-test diagnosis, and any change in management. Results Twenty-two clinicians participated in the study, completing 280 lung ultrasounds. Diagnosis changed in 124 (44.3%) of patients with dyspnea. Clinicians reported a change in management based on the lung ultrasound in 150 cases (53.6%). Of the changes in management, the majority involved treatment (83.3%) followed by disposition (13.3%) and new consults (2.7%). Conclusions In an emergency department in Nepal, bedside lung ultrasound had a significant impact on physician clinical decision-making, especially on patient diagnosis and treatment.Item Lung ultrasound training and evaluation for proficiency among physicians in a low-resource setting(Springer, 2021-06-30) House, Darlene R.; Amatya, Yogendra; Nti, Benjamin; Russell, Frances M.; Emergency Medicine, School of MedicineBackground: Lung ultrasound (LUS) is helpful for the evaluation of patients with dyspnea in the emergency department (ED). However, it remains unclear how much training and how many LUS examinations are needed for ED physicians to obtain proficiency. The objective of this study was to determine the threshold number of LUS physicians need to perform to achieve proficiency for interpreting LUS on ED patients with dyspnea. Methods: A prospective study was performed at Patan Hospital in Nepal, evaluating proficiency of physicians novice to LUS. After eight hours of didactics and hands-on training, physicians independently performed and interpreted ultrasounds on patients presenting to the ED with dyspnea. An expert sonographer blinded to patient data and LUS interpretation reviewed images and provided an expert interpretation. Interobserver agreement was performed between the study physician and expert physician interpretation. Cumulative sum analysis was used to determine the number of scans required to attain an acceptable level of training. Results: Nineteen physicians were included in the study, submitting 330 LUS examinations with 3288 lung zones. Eighteen physicians (95%) reached proficiency. Physicians reached proficiency for interpreting LUS accurately when compared to an expert after 4.4 (SD 2.2) LUS studies for individual zone interpretation and 4.8 (SD 2.3) studies for overall interpretation, respectively. Conclusions: Following 1 day of training, the majority of physicians novice to LUS achieved proficiency with interpretation of lung ultrasound after less than five ultrasound examinations performed independently.Item Piloting a Graduate Medical Education Point-of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum(Springer Nature, 2022-07-23) Ferre, Robinson M.; Russell, Frances M.; Peterson, Dina; Zakeri, Bita; Herbert, Audrey; Nti, Benjamin; Goldman, Mitchell; Wilcox, James G.; Wallach, Paul M.; Emergency Medicine, School of MedicineObjective: As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use grows, training in graduate medical education (GME) is increasingly needed. We piloted a multispecialty GME POCUS curriculum and assessed feasibility, knowledge, and comfort with performing POCUS exams. Methods: Residents were selected from the following residency programs: internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and a combined internal medicine/pediatrics program. Didactics occurred through an online curriculum that consisted of five modules: physics and machine operation, cardiac, lung, soft tissue, and extended focused sonography in trauma applications. Residents completed a pre- and post-curriculum questionnaire, as well as knowledge assessments before and after each module. One-hour hands-on training sessions were held for each module. Differences between pre- and post-participation questionnaire responses were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum. Results: Of the 24 residents selected, 21 (86%) were post-graduate year two or three, and 16 (65%) were from the internal medicine program. Eighteen (67%) residents reported limited prior POCUS experience. All pre- to post-knowledge assessment scores increased (p<0.05). Statistically significant increases pre- to post-curriculum were found for frequency of POCUS use (p = 0.003), comfort in using POCUS for assessing for abdominal aortic aneurysm, soft tissue abscess detection, undifferentiated hypotension and dyspnea, cardiac arrest and heart failure (p<0.025); and competency in machine use, acquiring and interpreting images and incorporating POCUS into clinical practice (p<0.001). All participants felt the skills learned during this curriculum were essential to their future practice. Conclusions: In this pilot, we found using a combination of online and hands-on training to be feasible, with improvement in residents’ knowledge, comfort, and use of POCUS.Item Piloting a Graduate Medical Education Point-of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum(Springer, 2022-07) Ferre, Robinson M.; Russell, Frances M.; Peterson, Dina; Zakeri, Bita; Herbert, Audrey; Nti, Benjamin; Goldman, Mitchell; Wilcox, James G.; Wallach, Paul M.; Radiology & Imaging Sciences, School of MedicineObjective As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use grows, training in graduate medical education (GME) is increasingly needed. We piloted a multispecialty GME POCUS curriculum and assessed feasibility, knowledge, and comfort with performing POCUS exams. Methods Residents were selected from the following residency programs: internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and a combined internal medicine/pediatrics program. Didactics occurred through an online curriculum that consisted of five modules: physics and machine operation, cardiac, lung, soft tissue, and extended focused sonography in trauma applications. Residents completed a pre- and post-curriculum questionnaire, as well as knowledge assessments before and after each module. One-hour hands-on training sessions were held for each module. Differences between pre- and post-participation questionnaire responses were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum. Results Of the 24 residents selected, 21 (86%) were post-graduate year two or three, and 16 (65%) were from the internal medicine program. Eighteen (67%) residents reported limited prior POCUS experience. All pre- to post-knowledge assessment scores increased (p<0.05). Statistically significant increases pre- to post-curriculum were found for frequency of POCUS use (p = 0.003), comfort in using POCUS for assessing for abdominal aortic aneurysm, soft tissue abscess detection, undifferentiated hypotension and dyspnea, cardiac arrest and heart failure (p<0.025); and competency in machine use, acquiring and interpreting images and incorporating POCUS into clinical practice (p<0.001). All participants felt the skills learned during this curriculum were essential to their future practice. Conclusions In this pilot, we found using a combination of online and hands-on training to be feasible, with improvement in residents' knowledge, comfort, and use of POCUS.Item Success of Implementation of a System-Wide Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Training and Privileging Program for Emergency Physicians(Wiley, 2022-04) Kennedy, Sarah K.; Ferre, Robinson M.; Rood, Loren K.; Nti, Benjamin; Ehrman, Robert R.; Emergency Medicine, School of MedicineObjectives Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely used in the emergency department (ED). Not all practicing emergency physicians (EPs) received POCUS training during residency, leaving a training gap that is reflected in POCUS privileging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the success of meeting privileging criteria, as well as associated factors, following implementation of a basic POCUS training and privileging program within a large Department of Emergency Medicine. Methods We implemented a POCUS training and privileging program, based on national guidelines, for faculty physicians who worked at one of the following EDs staffed by the same Department of Emergency Medicine: a pediatric tertiary site, 2 tertiary academic sites, and 7 community sites. POCUS exams included aorta, cardiac, first-trimester obstetrics, and extended focused assessment with sonography in trauma. Pediatric emergency medicine faculty were taught soft tissue and thoracic ultrasound instead of aorta and obstetrics. Completion of the program required 16 hours of didactics, ≥25 quality assured ultrasound examinations by exam type and passing a series of knowledge-based exams. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Associations between physician characteristics and successfully becoming privileged in POCUS were modeled using Firth’s logistic regression. Results 176 faculty physicians were eligible. 145 (82.4%) achieved basic POCUS privileging during the study period. Different pathways were used including: 86 (48.9%) practice-based, 9 (5.1%) fellowship-based, and 82 (46.9%) residency-based. POCUS privileging was lower for those working in a community versus academic setting (OR 0.3, CI 0.1-0.9). A greater number of scans completed prior to the privileging program was associated with greater success. Conclusion Implementation of a POCUS training and privileging program can be successful in a large Department of Emergency Medicine that staffs hospitals in a large-scale healthcare system comprised of both academic and community sites. Faculty physicians with at least some prior exposure to POCUS were more successful.