LUng and Cardiac Ultrasound for REspiratory Distress in ElDerly

Prospective trial to evaluate the impact on the initial therapeutic inadequacy of a management strategy for acute dyspnea in the elderly based on the use of lung and cardiac ultrasonography.

Acute dyspnea is a frequent and serious reason of admission in Emergency Department (ED), with a one-month mortality close to 16%. It is difficult to diagnose in the initial assessment phase since the cause of this symptom can vary (cardiological, pulmonary, infectious, etc.) and the symptoms can be misleading. This difficulty in diagnosing delays the implementation of appropriate therapeutic management even as the timeliness of management is associated with a reduction in mortality. These issues are particularly important in the elderly. Lung and cardiac ultrasonography performed by the emergency physician, immediately available at the patient's bedside, could reduce the diagnostic and therefore therapeutic delay. However, the impact of a diagnostic strategy based on lung and cardiac ultrasonography in dyspneic elderly subjects has not been evaluated. Patients will be randomized in two groups : "standard of care" or "clinical ultrasound" group. Treatments initiated in Emergency Department (ED) will be noted to be compared to final diagnosis.