Point Of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in anesthesia is it still optional?

Magdy Imam Abdel Aleem Taha

Saqr Hospital -EHS , UAE

Biography :

Magdy Imam, Consultant anesthesia and intensive care -EHS and associated professor of anesthesia and intensive care RAKMSHS.

Abstract :

Ultrasound is a safe, portable, inexpensive, and easily accessible tool. This diagnostic tool can be very beneficial for anaesthesiologists in their routine practice beside ultrasound guided nerve block and vascular access. There are multiple potential areas where ultrasound plays an important role in the guidance of blind and invasive interventions, diagnosis of critical conditions, and assessment of possible anatomical variations that may lead to modification of the anaesthetic plan. While POCUS is well-established for ultrasound-guided nerve blocks and vascular access, its scope extends further and the use of POCUS is growing worldwide, as it makes it easier for anaesthesiologists to tailor patient management in the intensive care unit, before the surgery, and in the prehospital setting. This rapid review aims to describe the main applications of ultrasound in anaesthesia, beyond routine use in vascular access and nerve blocks, with emphasis in the perioperative management of anaesthetic complications and optimizing patient care.