Expert International Group Issues Statement for Use of Focused Cardiac Ultrasound

A new consensus statement for the use of focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) has been released by the World Interactive Network Focused on Critical UltraSound (WINFOCUS).

The article, "International Evidence-Based Recommendations for Focused Cardiac Ultrasound," published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography records results from the first international conference on the technology and its applications.

About Ultrasound
Ultrasound scan or sonogram uses sound waves to obtain images of the internal organs. Ultrasound scan is used during pregnancy and to examine breast, abdomen, renal and thyroid.

The conference aimed to comprehensively address this branch of point-of-care ultrasound, providing a framework for FoCUS to standardize its application in different clinical settings around the world.

During the forums held in New Delhi, Milan, Boston, and Barcelona as part of the international event, a total of 108 statements were elaborated and discussed. Face-to-face debates were held in two rounds using the modified Delphi technique.

The use of cardiac ultrasound, also known as echocardiography, has changed a lot since its introduction in 1954. The accuracy, efficiency and safety involved in cardiac ultrasound have made it the diagnostic choice for many clinicians when evaluating patients who present with signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease. The recent improvements in portability of cardiovascular ultrasound equipment have added to the expansion of its use in medical practice.

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Gabriele Via, a panelist and Intensivist and Anesthesiologist at the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, in Pavia, Italy, said that the recommendations of the panel would give a framework to FoCUS for improving its application in different clinical settings around the world.

“The recommendations represent a turning point for the medical community, especially, but not exclusively, in the field of emergency and critical care. Also, they delineate the nature, applications, technique, potential benefits, clinical integration, education, and certification principles for FoCUS,” he said.