Open AccessFocused Cardiac Ultrasound in the Pediatric Perioperative Setting
Author(s) -
Karen Boretsky,
David Kantor,
James A. DiNardo,
Achikam Oren-Grinberg
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0000000000004357
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesiology , perioperative , intensive care medicine , perioperative medicine , focus (optics) , medline , medical emergency , surgery , pathology , physics , political science , law , optics
Focused cardiac ultrasonography (FoCUS) has become an important diagnostic tool for acute care physicians. FoCUS allows real-time visualization of the heart and, in combination with the physical examination, acts as a hemodynamic monitor to manage patient care in acute situations. Most of the available perioperative literature has focused on adult patients. Little has been published on the perioperative application of FoCUS for pediatric patients. This article provides an overview of FoCUS used at the bedside by pediatric anesthesiologists. Variations in clinical applications, technical aspects, and interpretation of FoCUS findings in children are described. Discussion of training and competency is included. Barriers to implementation by pediatric intensivists and emergency medicine physicians include a lack of understanding of indications and training opportunities in pediatric FoCUS. It is likely that similar barriers exist in pediatric anesthesiology resulting in underutilization of FoCUS. The use of FoCUS in the pediatric operating room, however, may positively impact care of infants and children and should be encouraged.