[Point of care ultrasound: terminology, professional roles and protocols]

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is an imaging modality performed and interpreted by the treating physician at the bedside, with immediate integration of findings into clinical decision-making. Its rapid expansion in emergency medicine, critical care, and resource-limited settings has significantly improved diagnostic and therapeutic timeliness. However, this growth has highlighted the need to clearly define its scope of practice, standardize protocols, and distinguish POCUS from comprehensive consultative echocardiography. This review outlines the historical evolution of POCUS, from early trauma applications to structured protocols for shock, dyspnea, and cardiac arrest, and its current role in cardiopulmonary and hemodynamic monitoring of critically ill patients. Recent international guidelines are summarized, emphasizing POCUS as a distinct and complementary clinical tool rather than a replacement for formal imaging. Finally, future perspectives involving artificial intelligence and robotic ultrasound technologies are discussed, addressing their potential benefits and associated educational, organizational, and ethical challenges.