The study aimed to describe the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in a pediatric acute-care setting in Malawi, focusing on clinical indications, examination types, and frequency of positive findings. Over one year, 225 ultrasounds were performed on 142 patients at a tertiary hospital in Lilongwe. The most common indications were respiratory distress, edema, and shock/arrest. Cardiac, lung, and trauma-focused (FAST) exams were most frequent, with significant pathology found in 68% of non-procedural scans. The study concludes that POCUS is valuable for clinical decision-making and procedural guidance, suggesting that cardiopulmonary, FAST, and procedural exams be included in future POCUS training curricula in similar settings.
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