Lung Point-of-care Ultrasound in Acute Dyspnea: Early Diagnosis, Differentiation of Causes, and Impact on Emergency Management
Year: 2026
Type: book-chapter
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Acute dyspnea is a common and potentially life-threatening clinical presentation in emergency departments, requiring early identification of its underlying cause and timely intervention. This study aimed to analyze the scientific evidence regarding the applicability of point-of-care lung ultrasound (POCUS) for early diagnosis, etiological differentiation, and emergency management of acute dyspnea. An integrative literature review was conducted through a bibliographic search performed on October 14, 2026, in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and LILACS. A total of 572 records were identified, including 134 duplicates. Following screening of 438 records and full-text assessment of 21 publications, 12 publications were included in the synthesis, comprising clinical studies, diagnostic accuracy investigations, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2018 and 2026. The evidence indicated that the assessment of B-lines, pleural abnormalities, subpleural consolidations, and the lung point sign contributes to identifying patterns associated with acute heart failure, pneumonia, and pneumothorax. Comparative studies and meta-analyses demonstrated high diagnostic sensitivity for specific conditions, along with shorter times to diagnosis and treatment initiation in selected settings. Serial cardiopulmonary POCUS examinations also showed benefits in short-term symptom relief among selected patients. However, a multicenter randomized trial published in 2026 found no significant increase in hospital discharge within 24 hours, indicating that adding POCUS to conventional assessment does not guarantee improved clinical outcomes across all settings. In conclusion, point-of-care lung ultrasound represents a valuable complementary tool for evaluating acute dyspnea and supporting timely clinical decisions when integrated into conventional assessment. Nevertheless, further high-quality evidence is needed to establish its effects on clinically important patient-centered outcomes.
Source: Seven Editora eBooks
Authors: Marco Antônio Franco Cançado, Kaike Ryoju Bastos Misuno, Rafael de Cristo, Henrique Claumann de Souza, Ana Caroline Carvalho Bezerra, Renato Discacciati, Lívia Gonçalves de Oliveira, Marcus César Leandro da Silva Leal, Michele Stock Schneider Frigeri, Fernanda Tâmy Alves Iseri, Henrique Oliveira Brandão Araújo, Jean Carlos Dotto, Valdinei Klein Conti, Eduarda Maran, Juliana Lopes Correa, Ana Laura Oliveira da Costa, Nayara Prado Borge, Gabriel Gonçalves Souza, Gianluca Homero Rebelo de Souza, Paula Venturini Pivotto, Giovana Mitie Bansho
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7225192149