ROLE OF POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND (POCUS) IN THE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF ABDOMINAL EMERGENCIES

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as an indispensable diagnostic tool in the management of medical emergencies, including acute abdominal conditions requiring surgical intervention. Its ability to provide rapid, non-invasive, and real-time bedside assessments has transformed the initial approach to patients with abdominal pain, trauma, or other emergencies. This systematic review aims to analyze the impact of POCUS on surgical decision-making, reduction of diagnostic time, and improvement of clinical outcomes. Through a comprehensive search of the Scielo, PubMed, and Latindex databases, 25 articles published in the last five years were selected, addressing the application of POCUS in scenarios such as appendicitis, cholecystitis, blunt abdominal trauma, and intestinal obstruction. The results demonstrate that POCUS is an accurate and effective tool for triage and diagnosis, contributing to the optimization of workflows and the reduction of unnecessary complementary exams. Its integration into emergency care protocols has the potential to optimize surgical management and enhance patient safety.