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Published on: April 7, 2023
Contemporary Use of Ultrasonography in Acute Care Pediatrics
Benjamin W Kozyak1, Mahsun Yuerek2, Thomas W Conlon3
1Division of Cardiac Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. kozyakbw@chop.edu.
Insights
Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is increasingly used by pediatric acute care providers for diagnosis and guiding procedures in critically ill children. Proper training and protocols are essential for safe and effective POCUS implementation in pediatric emergency medicine.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Clinical Ultrasonography
Background:
- Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) has seen rapid expansion in clinical practice.
- Pediatric acute care providers utilize POCUS for procedural guidance, diagnosis, and critical decision-making in unstable children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current applications of POCUS in pediatric acute care.
- To highlight literature supporting the use of POCUS in this setting.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies supporting POCUS in pediatric acute care.
- Analysis of POCUS integration into medical education.
Main Results:
- POCUS is a valuable tool for diagnosis and procedural guidance in pediatric emergencies.
- Increasing incorporation of POCUS into pediatric residency and fellowship curricula.
Conclusions:
- Safe and effective deployment of POCUS requires robust training, protocols, and safeguards.
- Educators and trainees must be aware of the diverse clinical applications of POCUS in pediatrics.
Abstract:
Use of ultrasonography by clinicians at the point of care has expanded widely and rapidly. Pediatric acute care providers now leverage this valuable tool to guide procedures, diagnose pathophysiologic processes, and inform time-sensitive decisions in sick and unstable children. However, the deployment of any new technology must be packaged with training, protocols, and safeguards to optimize safety for patients, providers, and institutions. As ultrasonography is increasingly incorporated into residency, fellowship, and even medical student curricula, it is important that educators and trainees are aware of the diversity of its clinical applications. This article aims to review the current state of point-of-care ultrasonography in acute care pediatrics, with an emphasis on the literature supporting the use of this important clinical tool.
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