Interpretation of Lung Ultrasound in POCUS

Lung point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a valuable tool for bedside imaging in the emergency and critical care setting. Over the past decade, it has been increasingly used to evaluate not only children with pulmonary conditions but also to guide decision-making regarding fluid management, weaning, and extubation, etc. In trained hands, this modality is comparable, or even superior to chest radiography for selected conditions, while significantly reducing radiation exposure. The integration of lung POCUS into routine pediatric critical care has the potential to improve diagnostic efficiency and patient safety when used as an adjunct to clinical assessment. This narrative review summarizes the basic principles of lung POCUS, key findings in common respiratory problems in critically ill children, and its clinical applications along with limitations.