Ultrasound inside the lungs could spot deadly clots in ICU patients

NCT ID NCT04047784

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This pilot study is testing whether a special ultrasound scope (EBUS) can diagnose acute pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung) in critically ill patients in the ICU. These patients often cannot undergo standard CT scans because they are too unstable or have kidney problems. The study will enroll 60 intubated adults and compare EBUS findings to CT results when available, and track patient outcomes. If EBUS proves accurate, it could offer a faster, bedside way to diagnose life-threatening clots.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) device
What this could lead to
If successful, EBUS could provide a bedside tool to quickly diagnose dangerous blood clots in the lungs of ICU patients who are too unstable for standard scans.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study (60 patients) with no control group, so results may not be definitive. EBUS is not yet proven for this use, and the procedure carries risks like airway bleeding or low blood pressure.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

    Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

  • UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica

    Santa Monica, California, 90404, United States

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