Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is one of the most significant innovations in contemporary cardiovascular clinical practice, serving as an extension of the bedside physical examination. This executive summary outlines the Position Statement from the Department of Cardiovascular Imaging of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (DIC-SBC), published in 2026, covering the key domains of cardiovascular POCUS application: cardiac assessment, lung ultrasound, assessment of systemic venous congestion (VExUS), screening for deep vein thrombosis, management of circulatory shock, short-term mechanical circulatory support, emergency medicine applications, cardiorespiratory arrest, and ultrasound-guided procedures. Fundamental concepts regarding training, certification, and ethical and legal aspects relevant to the Brazilian context are discussed. This document emphasizes that POCUS does not replace a comprehensive diagnostic echocardiogram, but rather adds substantial clinical value when performed by properly trained professionals within structured protocols.
Position Statement on the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Cardiovascular Medicine – 2026: Executive Summary
AlcantaraML, BernardoMPL, BeckALS, SantosSN, MorhySS, Lira FilhoEB, FelixAS, et al. Position Statement on the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Cardiovascular Medicine – 2026: Executive Summary. ABC Imagem Cardiovasc. 2026;39(3):e20260103.
Alcantara,Monica Luiza de; Bernardo,Marcos Paulo Lacerda; Beck,Adenalva Lima de Souza; Santos,Simone Nascimento; Morhy,Samira Saady; Lira Filho,Edgar Bezerra de; Felix,Alex dos Santos; Goldwasser,Daniel; Otto,Maria Estefânia Bosco; Salgado,Angelo Antunes; Siciliano,Ana Paula dos Reis Velloso; Netto,Fernando Melo; Freire,Claudia Maria Vilas; Albricker,Ana Cristina Lopes; Fernandes,Rafael Modesto; Mancuso,Frederico José Neves; Barros,Dalton de Souza; Aboumarie,Hatem Soliman; Miglioranza,Marcelo Haertel; Amaral,Salomon Israel do; Melo,Marcelo Dantas Tavares de; Pereira,Marcio Mendes; Paladin Filho,Antonio Tito; Moura,Lidia Ana Zytynski; Silva,Pedro Gabriel Melo de Barros e; Soeiro,Alexandre de Matos; Montenegro,Carlos Eduardo Lucena; Danzmann,Luiz Cláudio; Fernandes,João Ricardo Cordeiro; Barberato,Silvio Henrique. Position Statement on the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Cardiovascular Medicine – 2026: Executive Summary. ABC Imagem Cardiovasc., v. 39, n. 3, e20260103, Oct. 2026.
Alcantara,M.L. , Bernardo,M.P.L., Beck,A.L.S., Santos,S.N., Morhy,S.S., Lira Filho,E.B. , Felix,A.S., Goldwasser,D., Otto,M.E.B., Salgado,A.A., Siciliano,A.P.R.V., Netto,F.M., Freire,C.M.V., Albricker,A.C.L., Fernandes,R.M., Mancuso,F.J.N., Barros,D.S., Aboumarie,H.S., Miglioranza,M.H., Amaral,S.I. , Melo,M.D.T. , Pereira,M.M., Paladin Filho,A.T., Moura,L.A.Z., Silva,P.G.M.B. , Soeiro,A.M., Montenegro,C.E.L., Danzmann,L.C., Fernandes,J.R.C., & Barberato,S.H. (2026). Position Statement on the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Cardiovascular Medicine – 2026: Executive Summary. ABC Imagem Cardiovasc.,39(3), e20260103.
Alcantara,Monica Luiza de and Bernardo,Marcos Paulo Lacerda and Beck,Adenalva Lima de Souza and Santos,Simone Nascimento and Morhy,Samira Saady and Lira Filho,Edgar Bezerra de and Felix,Alex dos Santos and Goldwasser,Daniel and Otto,Maria Estefânia Bosco and Salgado,Angelo Antunes and Siciliano,Ana Paula dos Reis Velloso and Netto,Fernando Melo and Freire,Claudia Maria Vilas and Albricker,Ana Cristina Lopes and Fernandes,Rafael Modesto and Mancuso,Frederico José Neves and Barros,Dalton de Souza and Aboumarie,Hatem Soliman and Miglioranza,Marcelo Haertel and Amaral,Salomon Israel do and Melo,Marcelo Dantas Tavares de and Pereira,Marcio Mendes and Paladin Filho,Antonio Tito and Moura,Lidia Ana Zytynski and Silva,Pedro Gabriel Melo de Barros e and Soeiro,Alexandre de Matos and Montenegro,Carlos Eduardo Lucena and Danzmann,Luiz Cláudio and Fernandes,João Ricardo Cordeiro and Barberato,Silvio Henrique. Position Statement on the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Cardiovascular Medicine – 2026: Executive Summary. ABC Imagem Cardiovasc. [online]. 2026, vol. 39, n. 3, [cited 2026-10-19], e20260103. Available from: <https://www.abcimaging.org/article/position-statement-on-the-use-of-point-of-care-ultrasound-in-cardiovascular-medicine-2026-executive-summary/>. ISSN .
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Position Statement on the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Cardiovascular Medicine – 2026: Executive Summary