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Review
. 2022 Aug 24;12(9):2052.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12092052.

Point-of-Care Abdominal Ultrasonography (POCUS) on the Way to the Right and Rapid Diagnosis

Tijana Radonjić  1 , Maja Popović  1 , Marija Zdravković  1   2 , Igor Jovanović  1 , Višeslav Popadić  1 , Bogdan Crnokrak  1   2 , Slobodan Klašnja  1 , Olga Mandić  1 , Marija Dukić  1 , Marija Branković  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Point-of-Care Abdominal Ultrasonography (POCUS) on the Way to the Right and Rapid Diagnosis

Tijana Radonjić et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

Point-of-Care ultrasound (POCUS) is based on target ultrasound that is performed wherever a patient is being treated, and by a non-radiologist directly involved in the patient's care. It is used either for quick diagnosis or procedural guidance. Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints in emergency departments, and POCUS can help in the differentiation of patients who need additional diagnostic tests or hospital treatment, which eventually reduces the overall costs of health care. POCUS has high sensitivity and specificity in abdominal pathology, it can be helpful in the evaluation of biliary, intestinal, and urinary tract, and it is especially used in trauma. Additionally, the gold standard for abdominal aortic aneurysm detection, follow up and screening is precisely this diagnostic procedure. Unfortunately, the quality of ultrasound examination can be affected by the experience of the physician performing it and the patient's body weight. There is no doubt that POCUS is being increasingly recognized, but all motivated physicians should be provided with dedicated tutors and enough time for learning. This would certainly help to implement this diagnostic method as a routine in emergency and critical care departments, and significantly shorten the time until definitive diagnosis.

Keywords: POCUS; abdomen; point-of-care; ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Peri-splenic intraperitoneal free fluid (IPF) (red arrow).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Splenic trauma (diameter of hyperechogenic focus 31.2 mm).
Figure 3
Figure 3
An impacted calculus in the neck of the gallbladder (red arrow).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Severe hydronephrosis (left kidney) (red arrow).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Acute appendicitis (diameter of appendix 11.9 mm).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Target sign (red arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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