Perioperative ultrasound among South African anaesthetists: a survey of current practice and availability

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) plays an important role in vascular access placement, regional nerve blocks, and heart and lung assessments in the perioperative period. Its use has been shown to reduce failure and complication rates, thereby improving patient safety and procedural efficiency.1 Ultrasound (US) use among anaesthesiologists has gained greater importance in postgraduate training. Specialist training milestones, such as those developed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), have incorporated US for nerve blocks, vascular access and certain pain procedures.2