Point-of-Care-Ultrasound in Pediatrics: A Review and Update

Applications of Point-of-Care-Ultrasound in Neonatology: A Systematic Review of the Literature

“…In neonatal resuscitation, POCUS assists in distinguishing pseudo-pulseless electrical activity (pseudo-PEA) from true-PEA, aiding in appropriate intervention [ 29 ]. Furthermore, it aids in identifying reversible causes of cardiac arrest during episodes of shock and hemodynamic instability, ranging from pericardial effusions to ventricular dysfunction [ 14 ]. Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade are detectable through POCUS, guiding clinicians to discern their hemodynamic significance within the clinical context [ 23 ].…”

“…During neonatal resuscitation, lung POCUS quantifies lung aeration, monitors alveolar recruitment, and guides ventilation maneuvers, ensuring optimal respiratory support and enhancing neonatal outcomes [ 14 , 35 ].…”

“…The anterior fontanelle, patent in over 75% of infants at 12 months, serves as the required acoustic window. Additionally, the mastoid window facilitates the visualization of infratentorial structures, including the cerebellum [ 14 , 44 ].…”

“…Other conditions such as cerebral midline shift [ 22 ], cranial shunt failure [ 48 ], cerebral sinovenous thrombosis [ 49 ], and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy [ 18 , 24 ] can also be diagnosed and monitored using POCUS. Moreover, transcranial Doppler ultrasound allows for the assessment of cerebral blood flow by visualizing and examining the flow velocity and resistance of cerebral arteries [ 14 ].…”

“…Ocular ultrasound serves multiple purposes, including assessing ocular movement post-trauma, ensuring retinal integrity, and identifying the optic nerve [ 14 ] to conduct measurements of the optic nerve sheath diameter, providing insights into intracranial pressure levels [ 48 ].…”