Diagnostic Capacity of Pocket-Sized Ultrasound Devices at Point of Care by a Non-radiologist Resident in Patients with Suspected Abdominal Pathology

Bedside Assessment of the Kidneys and Bladder Using Point of Care Ultrasound

“…While referral ultrasound is the standard against which POCUS is compared, it is not always immediately available due to resources or patient condition. POCUS can be performed at the bedside within minutes, does not subject patients to radiation, and can be easily repeated to gauge the progression of pathology or impact of interventions [4].…”

“…Ultrasound machines are becoming more portable and inexpensive, placing them in the hands, and pockets, of more clinicians. While pocket ultrasounds generally have inferior resolution compared to full platform machines, particularly in obese patients, a 2017 study comparing pocket POCUS performed by urology residents to standard sonographer-performed ultrasound for presence of hydronephrosis resulted in a Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.62, suggesting moderate agreement [4,5]. A similar and more recent study showed moderate to strong agreement (κ = 0.61-0.80) for measurement of kidney length and presence of cysts or hydronephrosis [4].…”

“…While pocket ultrasounds generally have inferior resolution compared to full platform machines, particularly in obese patients, a 2017 study comparing pocket POCUS performed by urology residents to standard sonographer-performed ultrasound for presence of hydronephrosis resulted in a Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.62, suggesting moderate agreement [4,5]. A similar and more recent study showed moderate to strong agreement (κ = 0.61-0.80) for measurement of kidney length and presence of cysts or hydronephrosis [4]. These studies support the use of pocket devices to improve diagnosis at the bedside while cautioning against overconfidence in it as a standalone imaging modality.…”