Introduction

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has gained increas­ing presence in Pediatric Emergency Departments (PEDs). Its use provides highly valuable information for the diag­nosis, monitoring, and treatment of common conditions in the PED^(1,2), and also facilitates the performance of various procedures^(1,2). Thanks to its portability, immediacy, and safety—given that it involves no ionizing radiation—POCUS has become a key tool in PEDs, and in some countries it is part of the formal training curriculum for pediatric emer­gency medicine specialists⁽³⁾.

However, ten years ago, although POCUS was already well-established in adult emergency medicine, its adop­tion in PEDs nationwide was still at an early stage. Only a small number of centers used it routinely or had reference figures, structured training programs, or clinical protocols incorporating its use.

For this reason, in 2017 a group of emergency pedi­atricians, members of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Emergency Care (SEUP), requested the creation of the Clin­ical Ultrasound Working Group (GT-EC). Our goals were to offer training, provide logistical support, identify the most appropriate POCUS applications in the PED setting, and promote a culture of standardized and uniform use.

Training

The first action undertaken—given the heterogeneous knowledge among GT-EC members—was the design of a POCUS course focused on basic applications, tailored to pediatric emergency physicians and delivered by profes­sionals with extensive experience in the field. The first edi­tion was held in February 2019 at the College of Physicians of Bizkaia and was very well received. The course has been so successful that it is now offered in several locations, including Bilbao, Barcelona, and Madrid. In 2025 we cele­brated the 11th edition.

In subsequent years, the “Online Course on Clinical Ultrasound in Pediatric Emergency Care” was developed, offering theoretical content along with interactive activi­ties, demonstrative videos, and supplementary readings. The online format allowed the theoretical component to be removed from the in-person course, enabling expanded hands-on sessions. The online course was launched in 2021 and has remained active since then. In 2025, a revised and updated edition was released, incorporating new content based on work developed by the GT-EC⁽⁴⁾.

Quality control

Another GT-EC objective is to promote a standardized and uniform use of POCUS, meeting quality and safety standards. For this reason, in 2024 “checklist templates” were created to guide the assessment and reporting of clinical ultrasound examinations⁽⁵⁾. Their purpose is to highlight the key findings to be identified in each proposed application, helping clinicians maintain these points in mind when performing POCUS. These templates also serve as a guide for creating structured and uniform reports re­flecting findings and final interpretation.

With this same goal, and in collaboration with the other SEUP Working Groups (GTs), the GT-EC contribut­ed to the development of a list of “5 Things Not to Do”⁽⁶⁾. However, during the selection process, nine recommenda­tions reached consensus; therefore, we created a poster (Figure 1), a document available on the SEUP website⁽⁷⁾, and an article that is currently in the publication process.

Dissemination of knowledge

To promote the use of POCUS, the GT-EC has partic­ipated in online seminars through the SEUP campus. In 2020 we collaborated with the Trauma Pathology GT in a seminar on updates in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic conditions in pediatric emergencies. Later, in 2021, the GT-EC organized a seminar dedicated to various applications of POCUS in pediatric emergency care. Both seminars are available on the SEUP campus⁽⁸⁾.

The GT-EC has also been active in SEUP Annual Meet­ings, organizing and delivering workshops related to POCUS. At the 27th Annual Meeting, a workshop on Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access and Puncture was held. Later, at the 29th Annual Meeting, we organized a workshop titled “Scape-POCUS: Will You Be Able to Reach the Diagnosis?”, a gamified activity designed to reinforce learning on the use of POCUS in polytrauma patients.

Additionally, the GT-EC has been present on SEUP so­cial media platforms, sharing information about courses, outreach activities, and recently launching the publication of clinical cases. This initiative has encouraged active user participation and has demonstrated the practical benefits of POCUS in a direct and interactive way.

Collaboration with other societies

The GT-EC has also collaborated with other scientif­ic societies. In 2019, together with the equivalent groups from the Spanish Society of Pediatric Intensive Care (SE­CIP) and the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediat­rics (AEPAP), we authored an article discussing the main POCUS applications in pediatrics⁽²⁾. The article also empha­sized the need for evidence-based recommendations and the integration of POCUS training into residency curricula nationwide.

In addition, the Clinical Ultrasound Working Group of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (ecoSEMES) developed a document on basic POCUS competencies in emergency services and requested our collaboration in drafting a section outlining the specific aspects of pediat­ric emergency POCUS. This article was published in 2022 in Emergencias⁽⁹⁾.

Future projects and conclusion

Several projects are currently in progress within the GT-EC. One is the development of a web-based quick-reference guide that includes the most useful POCUS ap­plications in PEDs. Each section will include a description of the technique supported by photos and videos, as well as normal and pathological ultrasound findings.

Another ongoing project is participation in the 1st World Congress of Pediatric Emergency and Critical Care, through a workshop titled “Clinical Ultrasound in Pedi­atric Emergencies: From Theory to Action through an Olympic Clinical Case Competition”⁽¹⁰⁾, which will also be available online and in which the GT-EC will participate enthusiastically.

In conclusion, we believe that the GT-EC has contrib­uted to familiarizing PEDs nationwide with the routine use of POCUS while promoting a rigorous and evidence-based approach. We encourage all clinicians interested in POCUS to join the GT-EC, bringing new ideas that help expand its dissemination and advance its integration in PEDs.

References

1. Marin JR, Abo AM, Arroyo AC, Doniger SJ, Fischer JW, Rem­pell R, et al. Pediatric emergency medicine point-of-care ultrasound: summary of the evidence. Crit Ultrasound J. 2016;8(1):16.
2. Mayordomo-Colunga J, González-Cortés R, Bravo-Laguna MC, Martínez-Mas R, Vázquez-Martínez JL, Renter-Valdovinos L, et al. Ecografía a pie de cama: ¿es el momento de incluirla en la formación del pediatra? An Pediatr (Barc). 2019;91(3):206. e1–e13.
3. Acuña J, Rubin M, Hahn B, Das D, Kapoor M, Adhikari S, et al. Point-of-care ultrasound in United States pediatric emergen­cy medicine fellowship programs: the current state of practice and training. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2021;37(12):e1181–e1185.
4. Martínez Mas R, Triviño Rodríguez M, Landa Garriz M, Rane­ra Málaga A, Gallinas-Victoriano F, González Bertolin I, et al. Curso on-line Ecografía Clínica en Urgencias de Pediatría [In­ternet]. Madrid: Salud Digital; 2025 [Consulted 8 Oct 2025]. Available from: https://www.ecografiaclinicaseup.com
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6. Recomendaciones NO hacer SEUP [Internet]. [Consulted 8 Oct 2025]. Available from: https://seup.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/PosterSeup.pdf
7. Grupo de Trabajo de Ecografía Clínica de la Sociedad Españo­la de Urgencias de Pediatría. Recomendaciones de NO hac­er en el uso de la ecografía clínica en urgencias de pediatría [Internet]. [Consulted 8 Oct 2025]. Available from: https://seup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DOCUMENTO-RECOMENDACIONES-DE-NO-HACER-ECO-CLINICA.pdf
8. SEUP. Seminarios online impartidos [Internet]. [Consulted 8 Oct 2025]. Available from: https://seup.org/seminarios-online/
9. Villén Villegas T, Campo Linares R, Alonso Viladot JR, Martínez Mas R, Luque Hernández MJ, Ruiz Durán M, et al. Competen­cias básicas de la ecografía clínica en los servicios de urgen­cias y emergencias. Emergencias. 2022;34:377–87.
10. 1° Congreso Mundial de Urgencias y Emergencias Pediátricas. Cursos Pré-Congresso Online [Internet]. [Consulted 8 Oct 2025]. Available from: https://emergenciaspediatricas2026.com.br/es/cursos-pre-congresso-espanhol/