E-fast in patients with dengue infection in medical ward: a pilot study

Background Dengue is a major tropical infection in Malaysia. It has several presentations and may progress to severe illness. Mortality is high if left unsupported. Warning Signs (WS) ; nausea, vomiting abdominal pain, bleeding and leaking syndrome (LS) (ascites and pleural effusion) are crucial in dengue assessment. Abdominal pain and tenderness, gastrointestinal bleed, jaundice, hepatomegaly and ascites are predictors of severe illness and require intensive care support as mentioned in the literatures. At present, E-FAST is used widely in emergency unit to aid diagnosis and management in acute emergency and trauma. It has not been used in dengue infection to detect leaking syndrome. The clinical sign of leaking syndrome can be subtle if minimal. Early detection will lead to closer monitoring and anticipation of further change of clinical condition, hence aid in management of dengue.


Background
Dengue is a major tropical infection in Malaysia. It has several presentations and may progress to severe illness. Mortality is high if left unsupported. Warning Signs (WS) ; nausea, vomiting abdominal pain, bleeding and leaking syndrome (LS) (ascites and pleural effusion) are crucial in dengue assessment. Abdominal pain and tenderness, gastrointestinal bleed, jaundice, hepatomegaly and ascites are predictors of severe illness and require intensive care support as mentioned in the literatures.
At present, E-FAST is used widely in emergency unit to aid diagnosis and management in acute emergency and trauma. It has not been used in dengue infection to detect leaking syndrome. The clinical sign of leaking syndrome can be subtle if minimal. Early detection will lead to closer monitoring and anticipation of further change of clinical condition, hence aid in management of dengue.

Objective
To assess the utility of E-FAST in detecting LS in dengue infection.

Patients and methods
Cross-sectional study of patients with dengue infection admitted to medical wards in The Department of Medicine Hospital Kuala Lumpur from 18 August 2014 to 30 August 2014. All dengue infection cases received standard treatment. E-FAST was performed by a group of 4 physicians trained by WINFOCUS Malaysia Team. Each scan was performed by a physician, and reviewed by another . All baseline information, clinical and scan findings were recorded.

Conclusion
E-FAST is useful to detect fluid collection for LS in dengue patients with warning signs in Medical ward. Detection of LS is significantly better with E-FAST compare to clinical detection. Larger cohort of study population is needed for further evaluation of E-FAST usage in diagnosis, monitoring and management of dengue infection.