PoCUS in Nephrology: a New Tool to Improve Our Diagnostic Skills

Overview

Journal Clin Kidney J

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Nephrology

Date 2023 Feb 9

PMID 36755847

Authors

Gregorio Romero-Gonzalez

Joaquin Manrique

Maria F Slon-Roblero

Faeq Husain-Syed

Rafael de la Espriella

Fiorenza Ferrari

Jordi Bover

Alberto Ortiz

Claudio Ronco

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (PoCUS) aims to include a fifth pillar (insonation) in the classical physical examination in order to obtain images to answer specific questions by the clinician at the patient's bedside, allowing rapid identification of structural or functional abnormalities, enabling more accurate volume assessment and supporting diagnosis, as well as guiding procedures. In recent years, PoCUS has started becoming a valuable tool in day-to-day clinical practice, adopted by healthcare professionals from various medical specialties, never replacing physical examination but improving patient and medical care and experience. Renal patients represent a wide range of diseases, which lends PoCUS a special role as a valuable tool in different scenarios, not only for volume-related information but also for the assessment of a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, enhancing the sensitivity of conventional physical examination in nephrology. PoCUS in the hands of a nephrologist is a precision medicine tool.

Citing Articles

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Nephrology: Beyond Kidney Ultrasound.

Gomez-Johnson V, Lopez-Gil S, Argaiz E, Koratala A Diagnostics (Basel). 2025; 15(3).

PMID: 39941227 PMC: 11817333. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15030297.

Expanding the role of PoCUS in tailoring diuretic strategies for congestion management in critical care.

Romero-Gonzalez G, Koratala A, Soler-Majoral J, Kazory A, Ronco C Intensive Care Med. 2025; .

PMID: 39880995 DOI: 10.1007/s00134-025-07801-8.

Point-of-care ultrasound training in nephrology: a position statement by the International Alliance for POCUS in Nephrology.

Koratala A, Argaiz E, Romero-Gonzalez G, Reisinger N, Anwar S, Beaubien-Souligny W Clin Kidney J. 2024; 17(11):sfae245.

PMID: 39502372 PMC: 11536759. DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfae245.

The utility of point-of-care ultrasound in critical care nephrology.

da Hora Passos R, Flato U, Sanches P, Pellegrino C, Cordioli R, Silva B Front Nephrol. 2024; 4:1402641.

PMID: 39421322 PMC: 11484063. DOI: 10.3389/fneph.2024.1402641.

Furosemide responsiveness test-is there any reason to be afraid of diuretic use after cardiac surgery?.

Martinez-Chillaron M, Cupich A, Pineiro G, Molina-Andujar A, Poch Lopez de Brinas E J Thorac Dis. 2024; 16(7):4825-4828.

PMID: 39144322 PMC: 11320253. DOI: 10.21037/jtd-24-153.

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