Chapter 18: Handheld ultrasound devices in the emergency setting

Handheld ultrasound devices (HUDs) are powerful tools in the emergency setting for focused qualitative cardiac examinations of ventricular function, pericardial and pleural effusions, extravascular lung water, and intravascular volume assessment.
The wide dissemination of HUDs and their use both by cardiologists and non-cardiologists has become a reality. This trend is expected to grow in the near future.
Medical professionals using HUDs should receive appropriate education and training to avoid potentially catastrophic errors in the emergency setting. These include two components: competence in image acquisition and interpretation and specific education and training in HUD use.
Examinations with current HUDs, owing to technical limitations, cannot replace a complete echocardiogram; they can only be reported as a complement to physical examination.

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