Hand-carried Ultrasound to Assess Hydronephrosis

The Washington University

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Hydronephrosis; Acute Kidney Injury; Ultrasound

Treatments: Device: Hand-carried ultrasound

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03774719

201903192-1985080800

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates if trainees can accurately rule out dilation of the renal collecting system on ultrasound (hydronephrosis) using hand-carried ultrasound (HCU). Trainees will undergo a short ultrasound training program. Patients will be adults that are hospitalized and have acute or subacute kidney dysfunction. The investigators will assess sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of HCU compared to radiology performed ultrasound, and calculate potential cost savings to the patient and to the healthcare system.

Full description

Hand-carried ultrasound is an increasingly popular imaging modality and is widely used by emergency physicians, intensivists, trauma doctors and cardiologists. Renal ultrasonography is commonly ordered for patients with acute kidney injury, with a main focus on identifying obstruction of the collecting system, a rare but potentially reversible cause of acute kidney injury.

This study's aim is to evaluate if nephrology and internal medicine trainees can accurately rule out dilation of the renal collecting system on ultrasound (hydronephrosis) using hand-carried ultrasound (HCU). Trainees will undergo a short, uniform and well described ultrasound training program. Patients will be adults that are hospitalized and have acute or subacute kidney dysfunction. The investigators will assess sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of HCU compared to radiology performed ultrasound, and calculate potential cost savings to the patient and to the healthcare system.

Enrollment: 6 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age more than 18 years old
• Inpatient admission to Barnes Jewish Hospital (BJH)
• Patient has a diagnosis of Acute kidney injury (AKI) or Acute kidney Disease (AKD)
• Renal ultrasound ordered or performed within the past 4 hours

Exclusion criteria

• End-stage renal disease
• History of kidney transplant
• Stable chronic kidney disease
• Current diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma
• Pregnant women
• Morbid obesity (BMI >40)
• Rash or active skin lesions overlying the scanning area (left or right flank)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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6 participants in 1 patient group

Hand-carried ultrasound arm

Experimental group

Description:

This is the only arm of the study. It will be comprised of 154 inpatients who had a renal ultrasound ordered or performed within the past 4 hours. The intervention will be performing hand-carried ultrasound to evaluate for presence and degree of hydronephrosis.

Treatment:

Device: Hand-carried ultrasound