Expert recommendations on education, training and certification in perioperative Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Belgium (BePOCUS)

Abstract

Point-of care ultrasound (PoCUS) is a diagnostic paradigm, instrumental in the evolving anaesthesiologist’s role towards a perioperative physician. The purpose of this article is to propose expert suggestions for a national standard towards official certification in perioperative PoCUS. Previously published recommendations in this journal constituted a first move towards a structured PoCUS pathway for Belgian anaesthesia residents1. This article defines in detail a pathway towards obtaining competency in airway ultrasound, lung ultrasound, gastric ultrasound, hemodynamic volume assessment, basic transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. An updated overview of the international literature on the education of perioperative PoCUS serves as a scientific backbone.