Seyala I, Soldera J. Point-of-care ultrasound for evaluating acute dyspnoea in emergency departments: Systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Crit Care Med 2026; 15(1): 113426 [DOI: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i1.113426]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jonathan Soldera, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology and Acute Medicine, University of South Wales in association with Learna Ltd., Llantwit Road, Cardiff CF37 1DL, United Kingdom. jonathansoldera@gmail.com
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Critical Care Medicine
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Meta-Analysis
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Mar 9, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 3, 2026
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World Journal of Critical Care Medicine
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2220-3141
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Seyala I, Soldera J. Point-of-care ultrasound for evaluating acute dyspnoea in emergency departments: Systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Crit Care Med 2026; 15(1): 113426 [DOI: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i1.113426]
World J Crit Care Med. Mar 9, 2026; 15(1): 113426 Published online Mar 9, 2026. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v15.i1.113426
Point-of-care ultrasound for evaluating acute dyspnoea in emergency departments: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Issam Seyala, Jonathan Soldera
Issam Seyala, Department of Acute Medicine, University of South Wales in association with Learna Ltd., Cardiff CF37 1DL, United Kingdom
Jonathan Soldera, Department of Gastroenterology and Acute Medicine, University of South Wales in association with Learna Ltd., Cardiff CF37 1DL, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Soldera J, Seyala I participated in the concept and design research, drafted the manuscript and contributed to data acquisition, analysis and interpretation; Soldera J contributed to study supervision; all authors contributed to critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Corresponding author: Jonathan Soldera, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology and Acute Medicine, University of South Wales in association with Learna Ltd., Llantwit Road, Cardiff CF37 1DL, United Kingdom. jonathansoldera@gmail.com
Received: August 26, 2025 Revised: September 17, 2025 Accepted: January 7, 2026 Published online: March 9, 2026 Processing time: 187 Days and 6.4 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Acute dyspnoea is a common yet diagnostically complex presentation in emergency departments (EDs), representing approximately 2.4% of all visits. Traditional diagnostic tools-clinical assessment, chest radiography, and laboratory tests-may lack the precision required for timely and accurate diagnosis. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) offers real-time, bedside imaging and has emerged as a promising tool to address these limitations.
AIM
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical effectiveness of POCUS vs conventional modalities in adults with acute dyspnoea in the ED.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, EBSCO Host, MAG Online Library, Elsevier, and ProQuest without date restrictions. Studies were included if they involved adult ED patients undergoing POCUS for dyspnoea evaluation. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and PROSPERO registration (CRD42025649145), eligible studies were assessed using QUADAS-2, and diagnostic performance was analysed using MetaDisc software. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated.
RESULTS
Out of 581 identified records, 44 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 19 included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity of POCUS was 85.6% (95%CI: 84.0%-87.2%) and specificity was 80.8% (95%CI: 79.0%-82.5%). The DOR was 68.09 (95%CI: 27.07-171.28), and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.14 (95%CI: 0.085-0.231), indicating strong potential to rule out serious pathology. Substantial heterogeneity was noted, mainly due to operator variability, study design, and diagnostic protocols.
CONCLUSION
POCUS offers accurate, rapid, and cost-effective evaluation of acute dyspnoea in EDs. Standardised training and further research on outcomes, protocols, and underrepresented populations are essential for consistent, effective implementation.
Core Tip: This systematic review and meta-analysis highlight the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in evaluating adults presenting with acute dyspnoea in the emergency department. With a pooled sensitivity of 85.6% and specificity of 80.8%, POCUS demonstrates strong potential as a rapid, non-invasive, and radiation-free diagnostic tool. Its bedside applicability and ability to expedite clinical decision-making make it particularly valuable in both high-resource and resource-limited settings. Standardized training and structured protocols are essential to optimize its integration into emergency care and ensure consistent diagnostic performance.
