Pro: Does Every Anesthesiologist Need to Learn Point-of-Care Ultrasound?

Abstract

THE APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASOUND for the anesthesiologist are diverse and expanding rapidly. Although national society guidelines governing the appropriate use of ultrasound in anesthesiology have been available only for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and vascular access imaging, clinical guidance has more recently been published describing the use of focused cardiac ultrasound in multiple clinical contexts. 1 Troianos CA Hartman GS Glas KE et al. Guidelines for performing ultrasound guided vascular cannulation: Recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2011; 24: 1291-1318 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (257) Google Scholar , 2 American Society of Anesthesiologists and Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Task Force on Transesophageal EchocardiographyPractice guidelines for perioperative transesophageal echocardiography. An updated report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists Task Force on Transesophageal Echocardiography. Anesthesiology. 2010; 112: 1084-1096 Crossref PubMed Scopus (391) Google Scholar , 3 Spencer KT Kimura BJ Korcarz CE et al. Focused cardiac ultrasound: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2013; 26: 567-581 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (398) Google Scholar , 4 Via G Hussain A Wells M et al. International evidence-based recommendations for focused cardiac ultrasound. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2014; 27 (683.e1-683.e33) Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (368) Google Scholar Additionally, numerous point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) protocols now exist to guide the examination of nearly every organ system and area, including cardiac, pulmonary and/or pleural, abdominal, genitourinary, ocular, and airway. 4 Via G Hussain A Wells M et al. International evidence-based recommendations for focused cardiac ultrasound. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2014; 27 (683.e1-683.e33) Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (368) Google Scholar , 5 Haskins SC Bronshteyn Y Perlas A et al. American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine expert panel recommendations on point-of-care ultrasound education and training for regional anesthesiologists and pain physicians-part I: Clinical indications. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021; 46: 1031-1047 Crossref PubMed Scopus (15) Google Scholar , 6 Haskins SC Bronshteyn Y Perlas A et al. American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine expert panel recommendations on point-of-care ultrasound education and training for regional anesthesiologists and pain physicians-part II: Recommendations. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021; 46: 1048-1060 Crossref PubMed Scopus (14) Google Scholar , 7 Holm JH Frederiksen CA Johl-Olsen P et al. Perioperative use of focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE). Anesth Analg. 2012; 115: 1029-1032 Crossref PubMed Scopus (71) Google Scholar , 8 Lichtenstein DA Mezière GA. Relevance of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute respiratory failure: The BLUE protocol. Chest. 2008; 134: 117-125 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1146) Google Scholar , 9 Volpicelli G Elbarbary M Blaivas M et al. International evidence-based recommendations for point-of-care lung ultrasound. Intensive Care Med. 2012; 38: 577-591 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1758) Google Scholar , 10 Scalea TM Rodriguez A Chiu WC et al. Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST): Results from an international consensus conference. J Trauma. 1999; 46: 466-472 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar , 11 Perlas A Van de Putte P Van Houwe P et al. I-AIM framework for point-of-care gastric ultrasound. Br J Anaesth. 2016; 116: 7-11 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (69) Google Scholar