Point-of-care ultrasound in the nephrological practice: Beyond the limits of the urinary tract

• Autor(a) principal: Bastos, Marcus
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Silveira Vieira, Ana Luisa, Muniz Pazeli Jr, José
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: HU Revista (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufjf.br/index.php/hurevista/article/view/28745
• topic: Ultrasound; Nephrology; Urinary Tract; Heart; Lung; Inferior Vena Cava; Ultrassonografia; Nefrologia; Sistema Urinário; Coração; Pulmão; Veia Cava Inferior

Introduction: The traditional model of reference ultrasound to radiologist has changed over the past 25 years. With the reductions in size and cost of ultrasound devices (today there are more than 10 handheld units on the market), medical specialists are increasingly using bedside ultrasound as an extension of the physical examination. Objective: To highlight the importance of using bedside ultrasound in the objective and expanded evaluation of renal patients. Material and Methods: Narrative review with study selection and interpretation of information based on arbitrary choice of authors. Results: In nephrology, ultrasound has not been widely used, and its major uses are in renal and venous identifications in renal biopsy and vascular access, respectively. However, the fundamental role of the kidneys in controlling body volume and blood pressure, eventually when they become dysfunctional, requires multiorgan evaluations. Thus, the use of ultrasound in nephrology should not be restricted to the procedures mentioned or the assessment of urinary retention. "Focused" ultrasound of the lungs, heart, and inferior vena cava allows the diagnosis of frequent complications observed in renal diseases, such as pulmonary congestion, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion, and thus be incorporated as extension of physical examination in nephrology. In the present review, the authors highlight the importance of using bedside ultrasound in the objective and expanded evaluation of renal patients. Conclusion: Renal multifunctionality implies a large number of renal and extrarenal complications when the kidneys are functionally affected, which justifies the use of POCUS not only in the evaluation of the urinary tract, but also in the lungs, heart, inferior vena cava, among others.