Sinanan R, Moshtaghi A, Koratala A. Point-of-care ultrasound in nephrology: A private practice viewpoint. World J Methodol 2024; 14(4): 95685 [DOI: 10.5662/wjm.v14.i4.95685]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Abhilash Koratala, FASN, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Nephrology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Road, Room A 7633, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States. akoratala@mcw.edu
Research Domain of This Article
Critical Care Medicine
Article-Type of This Article
Opinion Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Rajiv Sinanan, Arizona Kidney Disease and Hypertension Centers, Phoenix, AZ 85016, United States
Afsheen Moshtaghi, Department of Medicine, Verde Valley Medical Center, Cottonwood, AZ 86326, United States
Abhilash Koratala, Division of Nephrology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
Author contributions: Sinanan R drafted the initial version of the manuscript and obtained the ultrasound images; Moshtagi A assisted in drafting the manuscript; Koratala A reviewed and revised the manuscript for critical intellectual content.
Supported by Abhilash Koratala reports research funding from KidneyCure and the American Society of Nephrology’s William and Sandra Bennett Clinical Scholars Grant.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict(s) of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Abhilash Koratala, FASN, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Nephrology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Road, Room A 7633, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States. akoratala@mcw.edu
Received: April 16, 2024 Revised: June 28, 2024 Accepted: July 5, 2024 Published online: December 20, 2024 Processing time: 101 Days and 4.9 Hours
Abstract
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a limited ultrasound examination performed by the clinician at the bedside, emerging as a complement to physical examination across various medical specialties. In the field of nephrology, its integration has been gradual, primarily limited to guiding procedures like temporary dialysis catheter placement or, in some cases, diagnostic kidney ultrasounds. In reality, the assessment of hemodynamic status at the bedside holds immense value for nephrologists, yet there exists limited awareness among practitioners regarding its implementation. While there is a growing trend towards incorporating multi-organ POCUS training in fellowship programs, private practice nephrologists remain relatively uninformed. This discussion explores the untapped potential of POCUS as a valuable diagnostic tool in everyday nephrology practice, demonstrating its effectiveness in diverse clinical settings, ranging from medical wards to outpatient dialysis units. Additionally, we delve into the challenges hindering its widespread adoption and consider the future trajectory of this innovative approach.
Core Tip: The integration of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) into nephrology practice offers significant potential to streamline diagnosis and enhance patient care. Despite some barriers to implementation, such as time constraints and initial costs, the benefits of POCUS in improving diagnostic accuracy and practical outcomes are substantial. By leveraging available resources and gradually incorporating POCUS into practice, nephrologists can overcome these barriers and harness the full potential of this valuable diagnostic tool.
