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

Hussain A.; Via G.; Melniker L.; Goffi A.; Tavazzi G.; Neri L.; Villen T.; Hoppmann R.; Mojoli F.; Noble V.; Zieleskiewicz L.; Blanco P.; Ma I.W.Y.; Wahab M.A.; Alsaawi A.; Al Salamah M.; Balik M.; Barca D.; Bendjelid K.; Bouhemad B.; Bravo-Figueroa P.; Breitkreutz R.; Calderon J.; Connolly J.; Copetti R.; Corradi F.; Dean A.J.; Denault A.; Govil D.; Graci C.; Ha Y.-R.; Hurtado L.; Kameda T.; Lanspa M.; Laursen C.B.; Lee F.; Liu R.; Meineri M.; Montorfano M.; Nazerian P.; Nelson B.P.; Neskovic A.N.; Nogue R.; Osman A.; Pazeli J.; Pereira-Junior E.; Petrovic T.; Pivetta E.; Poelaert J.; Price S.; Prosen G.; Rodriguez S.; Rola P.; Royse C.; Chen Y.T.; Wells M.; Wong A.; Xiaoting W.; Zhen W.; Arabi Y. · Critical Care (2020) · DOI: 10.1186/s13054-020-03369-5

Resumen

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.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]