Lung ultrasound is still a relatively young diagnostic modality, but it is evolving and growing at a rapid pace.

Harrison’s manual of internal medicine deemed to it to be a “useless” modality as recently as 2001.

Once relegated to the management of equine pulmonary disease, it was first applied consistently to human thoracic disease about 30 years ago.

Lung ultrasound is now a centerpiece of ultrasound courses worldwide and is incorporated into many shock and hypoxia assessment protocols.

The recently initiated National Board of Echocardiography Examination of Special Competence in Critical Care Echocardiography even includes LUS as a part of the examination.

The future of lung ultrasound is full of fascinating possibilities. Several groups are developing automated classification algorithms for LUS findings. Others have demonstrated that lung ultrasound can be taught to nurses, respiratory therapists, and paramedics.

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