THE USE OF LUNG ULTRASOUND IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE - ULTRASOUND PROTOCOLS AND POCUS

Introduction: The development of ultrasound has led to an increase in its popularity and use in various medical fields. Emergency medicine, in particular, has enthusiastically adapted it to its needs by developing various examination protocols and diagnostic pathways, known as protocols, which allow for the rapid and effective diagnosis of life-threatening conditions. Methods: This paper describes some of the emergency protocols we use in our work, along with our experiences. It also reviews the literature for various types of ultrasound protocols, and then selects those that include imaging of the lungs and pleura. Results: The development of lung ultrasound has been extremely turbulent and controversial over the years, so this paper also serves as evidence of its very high usefulness in the diagnosis of life-threatening conditions. Ultimately, 19 protocols were selected, developed, and presented in the paper in terms of their method of execution, capabilities, popularity, and limitations. Conclusions: Based on the review, it can be concluded that ultrasound protocols are very popular in medicine and their use allows for shortening the diagnostic time and, consequently, improving the patient's prognosis.