Role of POCUS in Pediatric Hemodynamic Assessment

• Dr. Ahmed (Gamal) Sherif — Paediatric Intensive Care Consultant, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Co-Founder, Edu-PIC

Paediatrics

POCUS has become an important adjunct to conventional hemodynamic assessment in the PICU, helping bridge the gap between clinical findings, biomarkers, and continuous monitoring. Its major advantage is the ability to obtain rapid bedside information that directly addresses important management questions. POCUS can provide clues about volume status and cardiac function and may help differentiate hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, and obstructive shock. This information can support more targeted treatment decisions and reduce the risk of inappropriate fluid administration, particularly when cardiac dysfunction is present. POCUS also enables real-time reassessment after therapeutic interventions, allowing clinicians to determine promptly whether the patient's hemodynamic state is responding in the desired direction.