The potential clinical utility of ultrasound modalities in the COVID-19 patient, the limitations, evidence base and governance over point of care ultrasound images during a pandemic and a discussion on whether the hype surrounding Lung Ultrasound (LUS) is justified.

The use of ultrasound outside radiology has already become well established within many of the acute specialties, such as critical care and emergency medicine. Critical care ultrasound (CCUS) takes place at the point of care.

Many of these qualities have become particularly relevant in the current climate of the COVID-19 pandemic we are facing, where moving patients with COVID-19 around the hospital, in order to perform imaging studies, comes with significant risks.

Sending patients elsewhere in order to perform other imaging studies removes them from a place of isolation/infection quarantine, to non-infected areas. This places other staff, patients and the general public at significant risk of contamination.

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