Point-of-Care-Ultrasound in Pediatrics: A Review and Update

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics
• Ultrasound Technology

Background:

• Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has seen significant growth in clinical practice.
• POCUS plays a crucial role in guiding invasive procedures.
• Its application has broadened across adult, pediatric, and neonatal healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development of POCUS.
• To explore the expanding role of POCUS in various medical subspecialties.
• To highlight POCUS applications in critical care scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of historical aspects of POCUS.
• Synthesis of current POCUS applications in diverse clinical areas.
• Examination of POCUS utility in pediatric critical care, including cardiac arrest and ECMO.

Main Results:

• POCUS is integral to numerous subspecialties, including pediatrics.
• It is essential for assessing myocardial function during cardiac arrest.
• Neurological evaluations and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) deployment benefit from POCUS.

Conclusions:

• POCUS has become indispensable in modern patient care.
• Its utility extends from routine evaluations to complex critical interventions.
• Future applications in intensive care, cardiology, and emergency medicine are expanding.