Cardiac POCUS in critical obstetrics
Keywords:
POCUS; critical obstetrics; Hemodynamic monitoringAbstract
Introduction: Cardiovascular pathology remains one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Point-of-Care Cardiac Ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as an essential tool for rapid hemodynamic assessment within the obstetric intensive care unit.
Objective: To synthesize current evidence regarding the utility, protocols, and clinical benefits of cardiac POCUS in the management of critically ill obstetric patients.
Methodology: A narrative literature review was conducted across PubMed and Google Scholar databases, utilizing key terms such as "Point-of-Care Systems," "Echocardiography," "Obstetrics," and "Critical Care."
Results: POCUS enables the early identification of life-threatening conditions, including peripartum cardiomyopathy, preeclampsia-associated diastolic dysfunction, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Specialized protocols, such as FATE and RUSH, demonstrate high sensitivity in differentiating types of shock during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period.
Conclusions: Cardiac POCUS should be integrated into the mandatory training curriculum for obstetric intensivists to enhance clinical decision-making and improve maternal-fetal outcomes.
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