Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Abstract

The point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is well-established. The diagnostic power of ultrasound imaging has been brought to the point of care and is increasingly finding its place in a myriad of clinical settings. Ultrasound offers a window on anatomy so that with the appropriate training an operator can precisely image the relevant anatomical structures and thereby ensure a safe and precise procedure. With an increased awareness of safety, ultrasound is increasingly becoming mandatory for invasive procedures and becoming embedded in clinical guidelines. Ultrasound has come a long way since the pioneering work of Professor Ian Donald at the University of Glasgow in the mid-twentieth century, where early ultrasound scanners would typically occupy much of an entire room. The use of ultrasound in the critical care setting is well-established and expanding rapidly. The uptake of POCUS across the hospital specialties is still patchy, perhaps with the exception of trauma and emergency/critical care medicine.