Cardiac and vascular point-of-care ultrasound: current situation, problems, and future prospects

AbstractAlthough clinical application of ultrasound to the heart has a history of about 80  years, its big turning point was the emergence of a portable ultrasound diagnostic machine. As a result, the place, where echocardiography is performed widely spread outside the examination room, and the people who perform echocardiography have also greatly increased. Emergency physicians, anesthe siologists, and primary care physicians became interested in echocardiography and started using it. Such ultrasound examinations performed by a doctor for assessment of disease condition, management, or guidance of treatment at bedside has been called point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). Cardiac POCUS is divided into a focused cardiac ultrasound examination (FoCUS) and limited echocardiography. The former is performed by non-experts in echocardiography, such as emergency physicians and anesthesiologists, whereas the latter is usually performed by cardiologists who are experts in echocardiography. FoCUS has an established protocol and evaluation method, and evidence to prove its effectiveness is accumulating. In addition, the COVID-19 outbreak reaffirmed the importance of POCUS. Although FoCUS is becoming popular in Japan, an educational program has not been established, and discussion on ho w to educate medical students and residents will be necessary. Even if POCUS in cardiovascular medicine becomes widespread, auscultation will still be necessary. Rather, adding cardiac and vascular POCUS to ...
Source: Journal of Medical Ultrasonics - Category: Radiology Source Type: research