A Case of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Diagnosed by Point-of-care Ultrasound (POCUS)

COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Although most patients (81%) develop mild illness, 14% develop severe illness, and 5% develop critical illness, including acute respiratory failure, septic shock, and multiorgan dysfunction.1 Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), or bedside ultrasound performed by a clinician caring for the patient, is being used to support the diagnosis and serially monitor patients with COVID-19. We performed a literature search of electronically discoverable peer-reviewed publications on POCUS use in COVID-19 from December 1, 2019, to April 10, 2020. We review key POCUS applications that are most relevant to frontline providers in the care of COVID-19 patients.

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Just the Facts: Recommendations on point-of-care ultrasound use and machine infection control during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2020.364 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 445-449 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Daniel J. Kim ◽

Tomislav Jelic ◽

Michael Y. Woo ◽

Claire Heslop ◽

Paul Olszynski

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Control Measures ◽

World Health ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

The Novel ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

Health Organization ◽

Widespread Interest

The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and, currently, there are over 10,000 confirmed cases in Canada, with this number expected to grow exponentially. There has been widespread interest in the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the management of patients with suspected COVID-19. The CAEP Emergency Ultrasound Committee has developed recommendations on the use of POCUS in these patients, with an emphasis on machine infection control measures.

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Novel Coronavirus-Induced Right Ventricular Failure and Point of Care Echocardiography: A Case Report

Cardiology ◽

10.1159/000508527 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 145 (7) ◽

pp. 467-472 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lu Chen ◽

Gautham Upadhya ◽

Uta S. Guo ◽

Pooja Belligund ◽

David K. Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Injury ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Clinical Information ◽

Cardiovascular Complications ◽

Cor Pulmonale ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Ventricular Failure ◽

Acute Myocardial Injury ◽

Novel Coronavirus

Various cardiovascular complications have been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Common complications include acute myocardial injury, myocarditis, arrhythmia, pericarditis, heart failure, and shock. We present a case of cor pulmonale diagnosed with serial point of care ultrasound. Given the current shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and high infectivity of this virus, we acknowledge the utility of this tool in obtaining important clinical information while minimizing exposure and PPE consumption.

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Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in the early diagnosis of novel coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) in a first-level emergency department during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Italy: a real-life analysis

Internal and Emergency Medicine ◽

10.1007/s11739-021-02643-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Simone Bianchi ◽

Caterina Savinelli ◽

Elisa Paolucci ◽

Lorenzo Pelagatti ◽

Erica Sibona ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Real Life ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Life Analysis ◽

Novel Coronavirus

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Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Skull Fractures in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.2012-3921d ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 131 (6) ◽

pp. X22-X22

Keyword(s):

Point Of Care ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Skull Fractures ◽

Fractures In Children

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Case Report: When all claims that it is necrotizing fasciitis but Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) proves the opposite!

POCUS Journal ◽

10.24908/pocus.v3i1.13310 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 13-14

Author(s):

Hadiel Kaiyasah, MD, MRCS (Glasgow), ABHS-GS ◽

Maryam Al Ali, MBBS

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Critical Care ◽

Case Report ◽

Soft Tissue ◽

Necrotizing Fasciitis ◽

Soft Tissue Infection ◽

Critical Care Unit ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Soft Tissue Infections

Soft tissue ultrasound (ST-USS) has been shown to be of utmost importance in assessing patients with soft tissue infections in the emergency department or critical care unit. It aids in guiding the management of soft tissue infection based on the sonographic findings.

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Pilot Project: Does formal bedside training of medical students with a FAST exam increase their knowledge and comfort level with ultrasound use in a community family medicine practice setting?

POCUS Journal ◽

10.24908/pocus.v2i2.13279 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 15-17

Author(s):

Rimi Sambi, MD ◽

Heather Sawula, MD ◽

Brent Wolfrom, MD ◽

Joseph Newbigging, MD

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Family Medicine ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Training Session ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

Knowledge Retention ◽

Comfort Level ◽

Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽

Medical Undergraduate ◽

Fast Exam

As point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) becomes increasingly popular and a standard of care in many clinical settings, the interest for integration in medical undergraduate curriculum is also growing [1]. This project aims to assess whether formal bedside Focused Abdominal Scan for Trauma (FAST) exam training of medical students increases their knowledge and comfort with the use of bedside ultrasound in a family medicine setting at Queen’s University. Third year medical students (n=18) were recruited to participate in a training session involving a 1-hour online video and 2-hour hands-on session. Knowledge based surveys were completed before and after the training. A survey was completed 4 months after the teaching session evaluating knowledge retention, comfort, and application of skills. Student knowledge of PoCUS and FAST increased and was maintained (pre-training 56%±20%, post-training 82%±10%, p<0.001). Self-evaluation of comfort performing a FAST examination (5-point Likert scale) similarly increased post-training session (pre-training 1.4±0.8, post-training 3.8±0.9, p<0.005), but decreased 4 months later (3±1.2, p<0.005). Students in this study were unanimously interested in ultrasound training and the methods used effectively increased theoretical knowledge and comfort with use. Students did not retain their comfort levels with FAST exam 4 months after the training session, nor did they have the opportunity to utilize the skills learned. Further evidence is required to identify the applicability of these results to undergraduate curriculum development.

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