The Use of Lung Ultrasound in Acute Medicine

Acute Med. 2019;18(4):239-246.

Abstract

POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound) refers to ultrasound performed by clinicians as part of their initial patient evaluation, often with the aim of answering a specific question as opposed to being a comprehensive assessment. Such ultrasound is noninvasive, involves no radiation and can be rapidly performed at the bedside. It is also widely practiced in emergency and intensive care medicine leading to earlier and more accurate diagnoses for a wide range of presentations such as shock, renal failure and dyspnoea.

MeSH terms

  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Humans
  • Lung* / diagnostic imaging
  • Point-of-Care Systems*
  • Ultrasonography