Multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound for COVID-19 (PoCUS4COVID): international expert consensus

Crit Care. 2020 Dec 24;24(1):702. doi: 10.1186/s13054-020-03369-5.

Abstract

COVID-19 has caused great devastation in the past year. Multi-organ point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) including lung ultrasound (LUS) and focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) as a clinical adjunct has played a significant role in triaging, diagnosis and medical management of COVID-19 patients. The expert panel from 27 countries and 6 continents with considerable experience of direct application of PoCUS on COVID-19 patients presents evidence-based consensus using GRADE methodology for the quality of evidence and an expedited, modified-Delphi process for the strength of expert consensus. The use of ultrasound is suggested in many clinical situations related to respiratory, cardiovascular and thromboembolic aspects of COVID-19, comparing well with other imaging modalities. The limitations due to insufficient data are highlighted as opportunities for future research.

Keywords: COVID-19; Echocardiography; Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS); Lung ultrasound (LUS); Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS); SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnostic imaging*
  • COVID-19 / therapy
  • Consensus*
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Echocardiography / standards*
  • Humans
  • Internationality*
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Point-of-Care Systems / standards*
  • Thromboembolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Thromboembolism / therapy
  • Triage / methods
  • Triage / standards
  • Ultrasonography / standards