Acceso usuarios
Rafael de Souza Bueno, José Roberto de Reis e Silva, Ricardo Silva Moura, João Pedro Ribeiro Afonso, Juliana Mendonça de Paula Soares, Juliano Pereira, Wilson Rodrigues de Freitas Junior, Luis Vicente Franco Oliveira
The article reviews the use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in the diagnosis and management of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in extra-hospital settings, such as primary healthcare, outpatient clinics, and home care. CAP is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality across different age groups, including children and the elderly, requiring quick and accurate diagnoses to improve clinical outcomes. Traditionally, methods such as chest X-rays (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) scans are used to diagnose CAP, but they have limitations such as high cost, the need for specialized infrastructure, and radiation exposure. POCUS emerges as an effective alternative, offering high accuracy and being feasible for use by healthcare professionals who are not specialists in imaging diagnosis. Its portability and accessibility make it especially useful in remote or underserved areas. The absence of radiation makes POCUS particularly beneficial for sensitive populations, such as pregnant women. The review analyzed 27 studies published between 2015 and 2024, highlighting that POCUS not only competes with traditional methods in terms of accuracy but also provides additional advantages, such as the possibility of repeating exams for continuous clinical monitoring. In pediatrics and geriatrics, POCUS has proven particularly effective, surpassing chest X-rays in some diagnostic aspects. Moreover, the implementation of POCUS in primary care can reduce healthcare costs by decreasing the need for conventional imaging exams and hospital admissions. The tool has also proven to be valuable in public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where it facilitated rapid diagnoses and monitoring of pulmonary complications. However, challenges persist, such as interobserver variability and the need for adequate training to maximize the reproducibility of the findings. The integration of artificial intelligence and the development of specific protocols for primary care are future perspectives that can further enhance the effectiveness of POCUS. It is concluded that POCUS has great potential to transform the diagnosis and management of CAP in out-of-hospital settings, promoting faster, more accurate, and accessible diagnoses, as well as contributing to greater equity in access to healthcare.
