Utility of point-of-care ultrasound in the pediatric intensive care unit

Abstract

For critically ill patients, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been rapidly adopted for use in emergency departments and critical care units for diagnostic purposes and to guide decision making. We present two unique clinical scenarios in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), one in which ultrasound was used as a diagnostic tool to identify pulmonary edema, and the other in which ultrasound was used to facilitate placement of a naso-duodenal tube for enteral feeding. The potential role of POCUS in the PICU is presented and its utility in these two unique clinical scenarios discussed. Although, many cases will still require further radiological tests, The success of POCUS lies in immediate diagnosis allowing at the spot therapeutic interventions without wasting precious time.