Point-of-care-ultrasound in cardiac arrest: a useful tool for resuscitation

Cardiac arrest is defined as the sudden loss of heart activity, resulting in ineffective breathing and blood circulation. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) provides real-time, evidence-based information during resuscitation and enables rapid identification of reversible conditions to guide ongoing resuscitative efforts. This mini-review focuses on the utility of POCUS during cardiac arrest, including its role in non-shockable rhythms such as pulseless electrical activity, pseudo-PEA, and asystole, where electrocardiographic findings alone may be misleading. POCUS can assist in the identification of reversible causes, including cardiac tamponade, massive pulmonary embolism, and tension pneumothorax. The review also addresses the role of serial ultrasound in monitoring cardiac activity and guiding advanced resuscitation, while emphasizing that ultrasound should not be used as the sole criterion for termination of resuscitation. We have also reviewed the practical aspects of performing POCUS during cardiac arrest, including probe selection, obtaining useful views, and strategies to minimize interruptions to chest compressions. Structured approaches such as the Cardiac Arrest Sonographic Assessment protocol are discussed to support efficient image acquisition within the 10-s pulse-check window.