ICU · Monitoring / ultrasound

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) — Lung, Abdominal & Vascular

Also known as Point-of-care ultrasound · POCUS · Lung ultrasound · B-lines · FAST · eFAST · RUSH protocol · BLUE protocol · Compression ultrasonography · Lung point · Lung sliding

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is the clinician-performed, bedside ultrasound that answers specific clinical questions in real time, across three areas. Lung ultrasound: A-lines (normal), B-lines (interstitial syndrome — pulmonary oedema, ARDS, pneumonia), absent lung sliding (pneumothorax), the lung point (confirms pneumothorax), and the BLUE protocol for acute respiratory failure. Abdominal ultrasound: the FAST/eFAST (free fluid in trauma — Morison's pouch, splenorenal, pelvis, pericardium) and the non-trauma abdominal scan (AAA, gallbladder, hydronephrosis). Vascular ultrasound: compression ultrasonography for DVT (a non-compressible vein is a thrombus), ultrasound-guided line insertion, and AAA screening. POCUS integrates with the RUSH protocol (cardiac, lung, abdominal, vascular) for the bedside diagnosis of shock.