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Objectives: We sought to describe the test characteristics of cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) performed by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians after structured cardiac POCUS training. Methods: We evaluated the use of clinically indicated cardiac POCUS by PEM physicians in a single tertiary care pediatric emergency department after implementation of a focused cardiac POCUS training curriculum. The test characteristics of the sonologist interpretation were compared with expert POCUS review, by PEM physicians who have completed PEM POCUS fellowship training, for the assessment of both pericardial effusion and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.Results: A total of 1241 cardiac POCUS examinations were performed between July 2015 and December 2017, of which 456 were clinically indicated and underwent expert POCUS review and comprised the study sample. These examinations were performed by 33 different PEM attending sonologists. Chest pain (52%), dyspnea (20%), and tachycardia (18%) were the most common indications for cardiac POCUS. Prevalence of pericardial effusion and global systolic dysfunction based on expert POCUS review were 11% (48/443) and 4% (16/435), respectively. Real-time cardiac POCUS interpretation had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 99.5%, respectively, for both pericardial effusion and left ventricular systolic dysfunction when compared with expert POCUS review.Conclusions: Cardiac POCUS is both sensitive and specific for identifying pericardial effusion and left ventricular systolic dysfunction when performed by PEM attendings with focused training.

IMPORTANCEThe wide variation in the accuracy and reliability of the Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma (FAST) and the extended FAST (E-FAST) for children after blunt abdominal trauma reflects user expertise. FAST and E-FAST that are performed by experts tend to be more complete, better quality, and more often clinically valuable. OBJECTIVETo develop definitions of a complete, high-quality, and accurate interpretation for the FAST and E-FAST in children with injury using an expert, consensus-based modified Delphi technique. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This consensus-based qualitative study was conducted between May 1 to June 30, 2021. It used a scoping review and iterative Delphi technique and involved 2 rounds of online surveys and a live webinar to achieve consensus among a 26-member panel. This panel consisted of international experts in pediatric emergency point-of-care ultrasonography. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Definitions of complete, high-quality, and accurate FAST and E-FAST studies for children after injury. RESULTSOf the 29 invited pediatric FAST experts, 26 (15 men [58%]) agreed to participate in the panel. All 26 panelists completed the 2 rounds of surveys, and 24 (92%) participated in the live and asynchronous online discussions. Consensus was reached on FAST and E-FAST study definitions, and the panelists rated these 5 anatomic views as important and appropriate for a complete FAST: right upper-quadrant abdominal view, left upper-quadrant abdominal view, suprapubic views (transverse and sagittal), and subxiphoid cardiac view. For E-FAST, the same FAST anatomic views with the addition of the lung or pneumothorax view were deemed appropriate and important. In addition, the panelists rated a total of 32 landmarks as important for assessing completeness. Similarly, the panelists rated 14 statements on quality and 20 statements on accurate interpretation as appropriate.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This qualitative study generated definitions for complete FAST and E-FAST studies with high image quality and accurate interpretation in children with injury. These definitions are similar to those in adults with injury and may be used for future education, quality assurance, and research. Future research may focus on interpretation of trace volumes of abdominal free fluid and the use of serial FAST.

Objective: Traditionally, patient-reported fasting time has been the primary objective presedation measure of aspiration risk. Recently, gastric ultrasound has been used to assess gastric volume for the determination of aspiration risk in patients undergoing anesthesia in the operative setting. We sought to determine the correlation of gastric volume estimated by point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to reported fasting time. Methods:We included children 4 to 18 years of age who presented with an acute traumatic injury. Enrolled children underwent POCUS to calculate gastric volume, which was calculated using a validated formula: Volume (mL) = −7.8 + (3.5  Cross-sectional Area [CSA]) + (0.127  Age in months). The CSA was measured (CSA = (anterior-posterior diameter  craniocaudal diameter  π)/4). We analyzed the relationship between time since last reported oral intake and measured gastric volume using Spearman rank correlation (ρ).Results: A total of 103 patients with a median age of 10.5 years (interquartile range, 7.3-13.7 years) were enrolled. The gastric antrum was identified and measured in 88 (85%) patients; air obstructing the posterior surface of the gastric antrum prevented measurement in 14 of the 15 remaining patients. We observed a weak inverse correlation between fasting time (either liquid or solid) and estimated gastric volume (ρ = −0.33), with no significant difference based on type of intake (solids, ρ = 0.28; liquids, ρ = 0.22). Conclusion:Gastric volume can be estimated by POCUS and is not strongly correlated with fasting time in children in the emergency department setting.