Portable bedside ultrasound: The visual stethoscope of the 21 stcentury

Abstract

Over the past decade technological advances in the realm of ultrasound have allowed what was once a cumbersome and large machine to become essentially hand-held. This coupled with a greater understanding of lung sonography has revolutionized our bedside assessment of patients. Using ultrasound not as a diagnostic test, but instead as a component of the physical exam, may allow it to become the stethoscope of the 21 stcentury. © 2012 Gillman and Kirkpatrick; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.