Inter-rater reliability of a non-invasive cardiac output device
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A single centre study of a suprasternal transcutaneous doppler ultrasound device (USCOM) to take cardiac output measurements - assessment of the inter-rater reliability and feasibility of using the device. Do values gained from the device help to predict adverse outcomes for general medical patients admitted to an Acute Medical Unit?
IRAS ID
126186
Contact name
Lui Forni
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
WSHT
Research summary
An important component in the assessment and treatment of acutely unwell patients is recognition of how well the heart is pumping blood and what intervention (such as fluid or drugs) is required to optimise this ’pump.’
Basic observations such as heart rate and blood pressure are poor predictors or heart functioning and previously invasive devices have been employed to get a better idea of the status of the heart. Recently a non-invasive device (USCOM) using ultrasound has been introduced that may help clinical teams in hospital in a number of scenarios in hospital.
It is important that such a device is easy to use, is reliable and has good correlation when used by different personnel in the hospital. We would like to examine the inter-rater reliability of this device to measure heart function on healthy volunteers and patients on an acute medical unit. The study will take only a few minutes to perform and the non-invasive nature of the device means that the risk of harm to anyone is minimal.
Once we have looked at inter-rater reliability we would like to routinely use the device on the acute medical unit to see whether this is a feasible routine measurement and to subsequently look to see whether the results gained are helpful in predicting adverse (or good) outcomes for patients during their hospital stay.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0437
Date of REC Opinion
30 May 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion