Fifteen-minute consultation: Using point of care ultrasound to assess children with respiratory failure

Helen L Ord; Michael J Griksaitis

doi:10.1136/archdischild-2017-313795

Fifteen-minute consultation: Using point of care ultrasound to assess children with respiratory failure

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2019 Feb;104(1):2-10. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-313795. Epub 2018 May 25.

Authors

Helen L Ord^#¹, Michael J Griksaitis^#^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton, UK.
² Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 29802097
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-313795

Abstract

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is well established in adult emergency medicine and critical care. It is used for immediate diagnosis and evaluation of the impact of bedside interventions in the acutely unwell child. This article highlights how ultrasound can be helpful in paediatric practice when dealing with the neonate, infant or older child with undifferentiated respiratory distress, respiratory failure or ventilation problems. It highlights indications for use, key diagnostic features of common pathology and outlines the benefits of POCUS in everyday practice.

Keywords: intensive care; lung ultrasound; paediatric practice; point of care ultrasound; respiratory.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Critical Care / standards*
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Lung / diagnostic imaging*
Male
Pediatrics / standards*
Point-of-Care Systems / standards*
Practice Guidelines as Topic*
Respiratory Insufficiency / diagnosis*
Ultrasonography / standards*