Impact of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in pediatric emergency departments: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside diagnostic tool clinicians use to provide immediate insights and guide therapeutic interventions. It has become increasingly significant in pediatric emergency departments (EDs) for diagnosing conditions, managing critical scenarios, and guiding procedures due to its portability, ease of use, and lack of radiation. This study aims to systematically review and analyze the efficacy of POCUS compared to conventional diagnostic methods in pediatric emergency settings. A literature search was conducted across PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to February 2025. The inclusion criteria were pediatric patients aged 1 month to 18 years in EDs, with studies comparing POCUS to conventional methods. Primary outcomes included first-attempt procedural success and overall success rates. Secondary outcomes included time to procedure completion, mean number of attempts, hospitalization rates, and discharge rates. Data analysis was conducted in R employing a random-effects model, with dichotomous data analyzed as risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and continuous data as unbiased standardized mean difference (SMD). Statistical significance was defined at p < 0.05. Eighteen randomized controlled trials involving 2264 patients met the inclusion criteria. POCUS significantly improved first-attempt success (RR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.09-1.43). The overall procedural success showed a significant benefit with POCUS…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,264 participants or records.
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