Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist
Hari Kalagara, Bradley J. Coker, Neal S. Gerstein, Promil Kukreja, Lev Deriy, Albert Pierce, Matthew M. Townsley
Abstract
-century stethoscope. With the current available and growing evidence for the clinical value of POCUS, its utility across the perioperative arena adds enormous benefit to clinical decision-making. Cardiothoracic anesthesiologists routinely have used portable ultrasound systems for nearly as long as the technology has been available, making POCUS applications a natural extension of existing cardiothoracic anesthesia practice. This narrative review presents a broad discussion of the utility of POCUS for the cardiothoracic anesthesiologist in varying perioperative contexts, including the preoperative clinic, the operating room (OR), intensive care unit (ICU), and others. Furthermore, POCUS-related education, competence, and certification are addressed.