PoCUS in nephrology: a new tool to improve our diagnostic skills

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.

Automated summary

Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (PoCUS) is a method that adds sonographic imaging to the classical physical examination to help clinicians answer specific questions at the bedside. In recent years, PoCUS has become a valuable tool in clinical practice, improving the accuracy of diagnosis and assessment of renal diseases.