The rise of point-of-care ultrasound in cardiopulmonary diagnostics

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has rapidly evolved from a diagnostic adjunct into an essential extension of bedside clinical reasoning in acute cardiovascular care. By providing immediate, physiologically grounded, and non-invasive information, POCUS enhances diagnostic accuracy, risk stratification, and therapeutic guidance in real time. Among its core applications, lung ultrasound enables reliable detection and monitoring of pulmonary congestion, outperforming traditional methods such as chest X-ray and physical examination. The Venous Excess Ultrasound Score offers a structured assessment of systemic venous congestion through abdominal venous Doppler patterns. The left ventricular outflow tract velocity-time integral serves as a reproducible surrogate of forward flow and cardiac output, while focused cardiac ultrasound provides rapid structural and functional evaluation of the heart. The reliability and prognostic value of these modalities have been supported by growing evidence across diverse clinical contexts, though standardization of training and acquisition protocols remains crucial for widespread implementation. Integration of POCUS into daily workflows-through structured, serial assessments of pulmonary, venous, and haemodynamic status-holds promise to refine decision-making, individualize treatment strategies, and improve outcomes. This review summarizes current evidence, methodological considerations, and practical implications of POCUS in acute cardiovascular medicine, emphasizing its complementarity to, rather than replacement of, traditional diagnostic tools.