Pediatric emergency medicine point-of-care ultrasound: summary of the evidence

Abstract

The utility of point-of-care ultrasound is well supported by the medical literature. Consequently, pediatric emergency medicine providers have embraced this technology in everyday practice. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics published a policy statement endorsing the use of point-of-care ultrasound by pediatric emergency medicine providers. To date, there is no standard guideline for the practice of point-of-care ultrasound for this specialty. This document serves as an initial step in the detailed “how to” and description of individual point-of-care ultrasound examinations. Pediatric emergency medicine providers should refer to this paper as reference for published research, objectives for learners, and standardized reporting guidelines.

Paediatric point‐of‐care ultrasound in a resource‐limited Melanesian setting: A case series

“…Beyond the cases described, POCUS was used to assess for a wide variety of diagnoses in children including pneumonia, pleural effusions, appendicitis, ovarian torsion, and hip joint effusions. Other modalities with a high yield in PEM POCUS include the diagnosis of intussusception, and identification of soft tissue foreign bodies . In environments with a high incidence of communicable diseases, sonologists use the FASH examination to screen for suspected TB effusions, assess for oedematous states in dengue patients to guide fluid management and identify patients at high risk for deterioration, and assess the presence and degree of hepatomegaly or splenomegaly in patients with malaria.…”

Diagnostic Accuracy of a 3‐Point Ultrasound Protocol to Detect Esophageal or Endobronchial Mainstem Intubation in a Pediatric Emergency Department

“…The result of an ultrasound examination depends on the physician's expertise. With the introduction of ultrasonography into pediatric emergency medicine, educational guidelines and a consensus were published to safeguard the quality of the findings . As a result, ultrasonography performed by pediatric emergency physicians shows a high level of competency even when compared to the performance of specialists, as long as the physicians have adequate training and experience in the procedure.…”

Paediatric emergency medicine point‐of‐care ultrasound: Fundamental or fad?

“…23 Measurement of the optic nerve sheath diameter is showing promise as a surrogate marker of increased intracranial pressure, but reference ranges are not well defined in the paediatric population. 26,27 The future is in our hands 25 The applications are numerous but vary in practicality and efficacy.…”

“…26 Lung ultrasound is an example of a growing field in which POCUS is showing enormous promise in children, being more diagnostically accurate for pneumonia than the standard chest radiograph, and might eventually differentiate aetiology. 26 Lung ultrasound is an example of a growing field in which POCUS is showing enormous promise in children, being more diagnostically accurate for pneumonia than the standard chest radiograph, and might eventually differentiate aetiology.…”