TY - JOUR T1 - European Respiratory Society statement on thoracic ultrasound JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.01519-2020 VL - 57 IS - 3 SP - 2001519 AU - Christian B. Laursen AU - Amelia Clive AU - Rob Hallifax AU - Pia Iben Pietersen AU - Rachelle Asciak AU - Jesper Rømhild Davidsen AU - Rahul Bhatnagar AU - Eihab O. Bedawi AU - Niels Jacobsen AU - Courtney Coleman AU - Anthony Edey AU - Gabriele Via AU - Giovanni Volpicelli AU - Gilbert Massard AU - Francesco Raimondi AU - Matthew Evison AU - Lars Konge AU - Jouke Annema AU - Najib M. Rahman AU - Nick Maskell Y1 - 2021/03/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/57/3/2001519.abstract N2 - Thoracic ultrasound is increasingly considered to be an essential tool for the pulmonologist. It is used in diverse clinical scenarios, including as an adjunct to clinical decision making for diagnosis, a real-time guide to procedures and a predictor or measurement of treatment response. The aim of this European Respiratory Society task force was to produce a statement on thoracic ultrasound for pulmonologists using thoracic ultrasound within the field of respiratory medicine. The multidisciplinary panel performed a review of the literature, addressing major areas of thoracic ultrasound practice and application. The selected major areas include equipment and technique, assessment of the chest wall, parietal pleura, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, interstitial syndrome, lung consolidation, diaphragm assessment, intervention guidance, training and the patient perspective. Despite the growing evidence supporting the use of thoracic ultrasound, the published literature still contains a paucity of data in some important fields. Key research questions for each of the major areas were identified, which serve to facilitate future multicentre collaborations and research to further consolidate an evidence-based use of thoracic ultrasound, for the benefit of the many patients being exposed to clinicians using thoracic ultrasound.Continued clinical use and research has established thoracic ultrasound as a key tool and skill for the modern pulmonologist https://bit.ly/3cCL6KS ER -