Point-of-care ultrasound in cardiovascular imaging: current status and future prospects

As ultrasound technology has become more advanced and accessible over the years, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is becoming a tool as indispensable to the tech-savvy clinician as the traditional stethoscope, allowing clinicians to quickly identify normal versus abnormal findings and either reassure the patient or refer them for further testing and consultation. In cardiology, POCUS can be a critical adjunct for diagnosis, prognosis, and triage.

In this novel review, five illustrative cases that represent a cardiologist's use of POCUS are described, emphasizing common applications such as coronary heart disease risk stratification, heart failure diagnosis, acute coronary syndrome management, arrhythmia risk stratification, and assessment of renal failure and lower extremity edema.

As POCUS devices become smaller, more affordable, and augmented by artificial intelligence, more cardiac applications will be used to detect disease at an early stage, improve healthcare delivery, and save the costs of unnecessary testing or inappropriate triage. Current needs include the development and incorporation of evidence-based imaging protocols into a standardized curriculum. Given its safety, noninvasive nature, and internet connectivity, POCUS has the potential to modernize a physical exam with the capability of remote patient imaging assisted by artificial intelligence.