Liver Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS): Roadmap for training, credentialing, and implementation

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers real-time imaging advantages for liver disease assessment.
• POCUS enhances patient care and satisfaction across medical specialties.
• Current use of liver POCUS in the United States is limited despite global practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases' (AASLD) position on liver POCUS.
• To provide proposed imaging protocols, training, and credentialing recommendations.
• To offer practical guidelines for clinical implementation of liver POCUS.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and clinical practices regarding liver POCUS.
• Development of standardized POCUS imaging protocols for hepatic conditions.
• Formulation of recommendations for POCUS training, credentialing, and integration into hepatology practice.

Main Results:

• Liver POCUS enables rapid assessment of hepatic vascular and parenchymal abnormalities.
• POCUS aids in timely clinical decision-making, such as guiding fluid management.
• Future adoption of advanced ultrasonography procedures like shear wave elastography is anticipated.

Conclusions:

• Liver POCUS is a valuable tool with significant potential for improving liver disease management.
• Standardized protocols and training are crucial for widespread clinical adoption.
• Integration of POCUS can enrich the future practice of hepatology.