Critical care ultrasound practice survey
Abstract:
Objective: To describe the practice patterns of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and compare its usage across subgroups (adult vs. paediatric practitioners, physicians vs. nurse practitioners [NPs], high income [HI] vs. low and middle -income [LMI] countries).
Methods: Survey distributed via the Society of Critical Care Medicine in May-June 2024. Respondents reported the percentage of eligible patients in the past year for whom POCUS was used for vascular access and diagnostic purposes. Responses (0%, < 25%, 25%-50%, 50%-75%, > 75%) were converted into binary categories (> 50% use) and compared across subgroups using logistic regression.
Results: The survey was completed by 503 respondents from 39 countries (6% response rate): 77.7% from HI countries, 20.9% paediatric practitioners and 18.3% Nurse Practitioner (NPs)/Physician assistants (PAs). POCUS was commonly used for vascular access, and similar usage was found among NP/PAs, physicians, and adult and paediatric practitioners. Practitioners from LMI countries were less likely to use POCUS for vascular access. Basic diagnostic applications, such as assessing pleural effusion (72.5%) and left ventricular function (69.2%), were more commonly used than advanced applications like pulmonary artery pressure measurement (22%). Physicians were more likely than NPs (for some indications), and adult practitioners were more likely than paediatric practitioners (for most indications) to use POCUS for diagnostic purposes. Practitioners in LMI countries reported higher use of diagnostic applications than practitioners in HI countries.
Conclusions: POCUS is widely adopted in critical care but is less accepted for diagnostic use among paediatric practitioners and NP/PAs. Diagnostic utilisation is higher in LMI countries, while procedural use is lower.
Impact statement: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly used in intensive care units to guide diagnosis and procedures. Despite its importance, little is known about how consistently it is used by different types of clinicians around the world. This international survey of critical care practitioners from 39 countries shows that POCUS is widely used, particularly for procedures, but diagnostic use remains uneven. Paediatric clinicians and advanced practice providers report lower diagnostic use, while clinicians in low- and middle-income countries report higher diagnostic adoption. These findings highlight opportunities to improve access to training and support broader, more equitable use of POCUS in critical care.
Reference:
Tripathi S, Odhiambo C, Bhargava V, Bhomick K, Duvvuri P, Guru P, Keyrouz SG, Sinha S, White C. Critical Care Ultrasound Practice (CUSP) Survey: An International Survey of Ultrasound Practice Among Critical Care Practitioners. Australas J Ultrasound Med. 2026 Mar 9;29(2):e70039. doi: 10.1002/ajum.70039. PMID: 41809461; PMCID: PMC12969747.