Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Literature Primer: Key Papers on Renal and Biliary POCUS

Daniel J Kim; Colin R Bell; Tomislav Jelic; Rajiv Thavanathan; Claire L Heslop; Frank Myslik; David Lewis; Paul Atkinson; Jordan Chenkin; Ian M Buchanan; Paul Olszynski; Gillian Sheppard; Talia Burwash-Brennan; Elizabeth Lalande

doi:10.7759/cureus.37294

Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Literature Primer: Key Papers on Renal and Biliary POCUS

Cureus. 2023 Apr 8;15(4):e37294. doi: 10.7759/cureus.37294. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Authors

Daniel J Kim^{1

2}, Colin R Bell³, Tomislav Jelic⁴, Rajiv Thavanathan⁵, Claire L Heslop⁶, Frank Myslik⁷, David Lewis^{8

9}, Paul Atkinson^{8

9}, Jordan Chenkin⁶, Ian M Buchanan¹⁰, Paul Olszynski¹¹, Gillian Sheppard¹², Talia Burwash-Brennan¹³, Elizabeth Lalande¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CAN.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, CAN.
³ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, CAN.
⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, CAN.
⁵ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CAN.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, CAN.
⁷ Department of Emergency Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, CAN.
⁸ Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint John Regional Hospital, Saint John, CAN.
⁹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University New Brunswick, Saint John, CAN.
¹⁰ Department of Medicine, Division of Emergency Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, CAN.
¹¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CAN.
¹² Department of Emergency Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, CAN.
¹³ Department of Family and Emergency Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, CAN.
¹⁴ Department of Emergency Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, CAN.

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study is to identify the top five influential papers published on renal point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and the top five influential papers on biliary POCUS in adult patients. Methods A 14-member expert panel was recruited from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) Emergency Ultrasound Committee and the Canadian Ultrasound Fellowship Collaborative. All panel members have had ultrasound fellowship training or equivalent, are actively engaged in POCUS scholarship, and are involved with POCUS at their local site and nationally in Canada. We used a modified Delphi process consisting of three rounds of sequential surveys and discussion to achieve consensus on the top five influential papers for renal POCUS and biliary POCUS. Results The panel identified 27 relevant papers on renal POCUS and 30 relevant papers on biliary POCUS. All panel members participated in all three rounds of the modified Delphi process, and after completing this process, we identified the five most influential papers on renal POCUS and the five most influential papers on biliary POCUS. Conclusion We have developed a list, based on expert opinion, of the top five influential papers on renal and biliary POCUS to better inform all trainees and clinicians on how to use these applications in a more evidence-based manner. This list will also be of interest to clinicians and researchers who strive to further advance the field of POCUS.

Keywords: biliary; cholecystitis; cholelithiasis; hydronephrosis; point-of-care-ultrasound; renal; renal colic; ultrasound.