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Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has evolved in recent years in clinical practice, helping in early bedside diagnosis of important etiologies. Many medical schools and training programs are integrating POCUS into their curriculum. Especially with the technological advances of newer handheld ultrasound devices, POCUS has now become a component adjunct to clinical examination, in the clinic and bedside in critical care units. The diagnostic utility of POCUS lies both in early identification of critical kidney disease, and also extra-renal pathologies from a focused cardiac ultrasound, lung ultrasound, and integrated fluid assessment. There is a need to incorporate POCUS in training in pediatric nephrology and establish competency standard criteria. This review shall cover how POCUS helps in enhancing patient care in pediatric kidney disorders and critical children, and the recent advances., Author(s): Sidharth Kumar Sethi [sup.1] , Rupesh Raina [sup.2] , Abhilash Koratala [sup.3] , Afagh Hassanzadeh Rad [sup.4] , Ananya Vadhera [sup.5] , Hamidreza Badeli [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.429252.a, [...]

This document discusses the nuances of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in nephrology. It emphasizes that inferior vena cava (IVC) ultrasound is not synonymous with volume status assessment and should not be relied upon as a surrogate for intravascular volume. The document also highlights the limitations of IVC ultrasound in certain conditions, such as cirrhosis, and cautions against misinterpreting findings. Additionally, it discusses the misapplication of lung ultrasound (LUS) to infer volume status and emphasizes the need for a multi-organ POCUS approach for comprehensive hemodynamic assessment. The authors advocate for the development of well-structured training and certification programs for nephrologists in POCUS. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Congestion, marked by elevated cardiac filling pressures and their repercussions, is a contributing factor to morbidity and mortality in heart failure and critical illness. Relying on traditional methods for bedside evaluation often leads to inadequate decongestion and increased hospital readmissions. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), particularly multi-organ POCUS, including the Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) score, offers a promising approach in this scenario. VExUS enables the quantification of systemic venous congestion, aiding in fluid overload states by assessing inferior vena cava and venous Doppler waveforms. Summary: This comprehensive review delves into the latest developments in comprehending and evaluating congestion, shedding light on technical intricacies to enhance the effective application of VExUS. Recent studies emphasize the importance of evaluating signs of hemodynamic congestion before administering intravenous fluids, highlighting the concept of “fluid tolerance.” Moreover, VExUS-guided decongestion significantly improves decongestion rates in acute decompensated heart failure patients with acute kidney injury. Newer studies also highlight the prognostic implications of VExUS in the general ICU cohorts not confining to cardiac surgery patients. However, performing VExUS without understanding technical pitfalls may lead to clinical errors. Technical considerations in performing VExUS include nuances related to inferior vena cava and internal jugular vein ultrasound and familiarity with Doppler principles, optimal settings, and artifacts. Additionally, local structural alterations such as those seen in liver and kidney disease impact Doppler waveforms, emphasizing the need for careful interpretation. Key Message: Overall, VExUS presents a valuable tool for assessing congestion and guiding management, provided clinicians are familiar with its technical complexities and interpret findings judiciously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]