Handheld ultrasound devices in the emergency setting

Abstract

Ultrasound-based assessment of the heart with handheld ultrasound devices (HUDs) is an increasingly available imaging modality that may be used as an aid to rapid and accurate diagnosis of a variety of cardiac emergencies. Medical professionals using HUDs should receive appropriate training and must respect their weaknesses, as well as the limitations of focused cardiac examinations, to avoid potentially catastrophic errors in the emergency setting. Because examinations with current HUDs, owing to technical limitations, cannot replace a complete echocardiogram, they can only be reported as a complement to physical examination. Wide dissemination of HUDs and their use both by cardiologists and non-cardiologists becomes a reality. This trend is expected to grow in the near future. In this chapter, we describe the technical aspects of these miniature ultrasound devices, review their usefulness in the emergency setting, and discuss limitations, potential pitfalls, and future perspectives. © 2023 CRC Press.