Emerging applications of point-of-care ultrasound
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36958/sep.v8i2.346Keywords:
point of care ultrasound, emerging applications, impact, medical practiceAbstract
OBJECTIVE: to present the emerging applications of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), its impact on medical practice and its limitations. METHOD: an exhaustive search was performed in various meta-search engines and search engines, using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and health sciences descriptors (DeCS), the terms ¨point-of-care ultrasound¨, ¨focused ultrasound¨, ¨handheld ultrasound¨ were used and information published between 2017 to 2024 . RESULTS: emerging applications of POCUS include diagnosis of multiple pathologies, guidance of invasive procedures, continuous assessment of patient status and optimization of management based on outcomes, and medical education. It may be used by any health personnel who are properly trained and certified. The need for its integration into current medical practice arises from the impact generated due to its multiple benefits. Its main limitations include operator dependence and limited diagnostic scope. CONCLUSION: The emerging applications of POCUS continue to promote research and development of new techniques and protocols, driving innovations, a positive trend that seeks to optimize the quality of patient care.
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