The Evolving Role of Ultrasound in Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Ultrasound has dramatically influenced the practice of emergency medicine in the twenty-first century. From its introduction to the medical landscape in the 1950s, it has been studied and utilized in various diagnostic exams and procedural guidance. Bedside ultrasound allowed emergency physicians easy access to immediate imaging, giving them the means to make management decisions quicker and improve quality of care. Ultrasound has demonstrated utility in examination of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, biliary system, uterus, ovaries, testicles, eyes and many other structures in the body. It decreases unsuccessful attempts and post-procedural complications in peripheral and central venous cannulation, pericardiocentesis, thoracentesis and other procedures. It has become a vital component of emergency medicine education and physicians now graduating with increased skills in ultrasound will continue to refine and develop its role in the emergent care of critically ill patients.

Point of care prehospital ultrasound in Basic Emergency Services in Portugal

“…It should be noted that precisely because of this, there are fewer cases referred to Hospital emergency in the SUB N, because musculoskeletal problems are rarely live-saving, unlike the abdominal, cardiovascular and pleuropulmonary exams. 37 Despite all these regional and context differences, regarding to the classification of exams, this reveals a lot of homogeneity, which Regarding to the inferential statistics between variables (Table 3), there was verified a statistically correlation between the aggregate variables: Exam versus Resolution after exam versus Location, which reinforces that, regardless of the location (radiographer, context limitations, and patient characteristics), there seems to be a homogeneous approach and interpretation of the ultrasound exams.…”

“…Regarding descriptive statistics, as mentioned above, it was found a large number of musculoskeletal exams in SUB N, compared to SUB S, which is related to the fact that there is a linear probe available, the characteristics of the local Radiographer and the users who attend the services. It should be noted that precisely because of this, there are fewer cases referred to Hospital emergency in the SUB N, because musculoskeletal problems are rarely live‐saving , unlike the abdominal, cardiovascular and pleuropulmonary exams 37 …”

Emergency and Trauma Imaging

“…Many ED physicians now have completed certifications or diploma programs to enhance their competency in POCUS. POCUS has become a core competency in many of the current ED training programs [21]. There are now workshops and conferences dedicated to POCUS.…”