APPLICABILITY OF POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND (POCUS) IN THE EVALUATION OF ACUTE DYSPNEA: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Acute dyspnea is one of the most frequent symptoms in emergency departments and presents multiple etiologies, which highlights the need for fast and accurate diagnostic tools. Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) has become a fundamental resource for the immediate assessment of patients with respiratory distress, as it provides real-time results without radiation exposure. This study aimed to analyze the applicability of POCUS in the evaluation of acute dyspnea, synthesizing the scientific evidence published over the last ten years. It is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and ScienceDirect databases, including studies published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 20 studies were selected, including randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, observational studies, and case reports. The evidence indicated that POCUS demonstrates high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity above 90%), contributes to reducing diagnostic and therapeutic time, improves workflow efficiency, and shows broad clinical applicability, even in prehospital settings. Despite its proven effectiveness, challenges remain regarding operator dependence and the lack of standardized training protocols. It is concluded that POCUS is an indispensable diagnostic tool in contemporary clinical practice, with the potential to transform emergency care, reduce morbidity and mortality, and strengthen evidence-based clinical decision-making.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.037-048