Standardization of Point-of-Care-Ultrasonography in Critical Care: Enhancing Quality and Efficiency

• Published in: Current pulmonology reports Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 287 - 296
• Main Authors: Garcia, Yunuen Aguilera, Han, Jeong, Vidovic, Zora, Luis Díaz-Gómez, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-09-2024
• Subjects: Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Review; Thoracic Surgery; Topical Collection on Point of Care Thoracic Ultrasound; POCUS digitalization; POCUS competence; Barriers for POCUS implementation; POCUS standardization; POCUS and acute respiratory failure; POCUS and shock
• ISSN: 2199-2428; 2199-2428
• DOI: 10.1007/s13665-024-00355-y

Purpose of the Review
The integration of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in the critical care specialty has changed the field's practice. This review aims to provide an overview of the current scope of POCUS in the assessment of shock and acute respiratory failure, discussing barriers to its implementations, frameworks useful in improving POCUS efficiency and delineate current pathways for assuring POCUS competency.
Recent Findings
POCUS enhances diagnostic accuracy and expedites diagnosis etiology of shock and acute respiratory failure. Several obstacles impede its seamless incorporation into the critical care field. Models such as networking platforms facilitated by imaging digitalization, the digital value loop concept, integration of artificial intelligence algorithms have the potential role to overcome these challenges.
Summary
POCUS protocols have a tangible impact in the diagnosis and treatment of shock and acute respiratory failure in critical care settings. The digital value loop concept with the use of artificial intelligence holds the potential to maximize the role of POCUS in critical care, remodeling current methods of learning and assuring competence in POCUS.