Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in Paediatric Critical Care
Aims
To advance research, innovation, and education in paediatric POCUS by integrating ultrasound into real-time clinical decision-making across paediatric critical care. We aim to strengthen national and international POCUS education, governance, and credentialing frameworks, ensuring standardised practice across PICU, NICU, emergency care, and retrieval medicine.
Focus areas
- Development and validation of POCUS protocols for early identification of respiratory failure, circulatory failure, and sepsis-associated organ dysfunction.
- Research on POCUS-guided haemodynamic assessment (cardiac function, volume status, fluid responsiveness) and its impact on clinical decision-making.
- Evaluation of lung ultrasound for diagnosis and monitoring of pneumonia, bronchiolitis, pulmonary oedema, and acute respiratory distress.
- Use of abdominal POCUS for early detection of acute abdomen, intussusception, free fluid, and acute liver failure complications.
- Integration of POCUS into procedural safety (vascular access, drains, lumbar puncture) to reduce complication rates.
- Development of competency frameworks, credentialing pathways, and simulation-based education for POCUS in paediatric critical care.
- Use of advanced POCUS technologies (AI-assisted interpretation, handheld ultrasound, tele-ultrasound) to enhance accessibility and remote support, including retrieval and global health settings.
- Collaboration with radiology for quality assurance, image review, and structured reporting to embed POCUS as a core diagnostic modality.
Leadership
- Dr Bogdana Zoica – National POCUS Lead (UK); international educator; leads paediatric POCUS training across multiple national platforms; expert in cardiac, lung, abdominal and vascular POCUS applications
Theme Membership and Internal collaborators
Dr Federico Minen – expert in lung and cardiac POCUS
Louis Skevington-Postles – Physiotherapist at KCH, Teaches on National CACTUS courses
Dr Christina Balnta – PICU Consultant at KCH- Expertise in cardiac POCUS
Catia Pinto – Paediatric critical care ANP, joint POCUS lead, Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Alex Williams – Paediatric critical care ANP, joint POCUS lead, Evelina London Children’s Hospital
Dr Ben Crulli – medical POCUS lead Evelina London Children’s Hospital