Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a rapidly developing technology that has the potential to revolutionize emergency and critical care medicine. The use of POCUS can improve patient care by providing real-time clinical information. However, appropriate usage and proper training are crucial to ensure patient safety and reliability. This article discusses the various applications of POCUS in emergency and critical care medicine, the importance of training and education, and the future of POCUS in medicine.

Objectives: The correct chest compression technique was emphasised to enhance the result of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the 2005 guidelines. The present study compared the effects of different bed heights, including a bed at knee height, on the performance of chest compressions. Methods: Twenty-four healthcare providers participated in this study. Knee height was defined as the baseline bed height. Bed heights were adjusted to 10 and 20 cm above the baseline and 10 and 20 cm below the baseline. At the five bed heights, chest compressions were performed for 2 minutes, and the compression rate was maintained at 100 per minute, with audible feedback. Results: The mean compression depths (MCD) were 28.3 mm (SD 10.7; knee height +20 cm), 32.3 mm (SD 9.2; knee height +10 cm), 32.7 mm (SD 8.5; knee height), 32.3 mm (SD 9.0; knee height −10 cm) and 31.1 mm (SD 8.5; knee height −20 cm). The MCD was significantly lower at knee height plus 20 cm (p<0.001). Conclusion: The performance of chest compressions decreased when the bed height was 20 cm higher than the knee height of the rescuer.

Objectives: The two-finger technique (TFT) using the index-middle fingers of the right hand (TFT-R23) was recently confirmed to produce deeper chest compression depth (CCD) compared with the TFT using any other fingers. This study was carried out to confirm whether the TFT-R23 would be as effective as the two-thumb technique (TTT). In addition, individual finger strengths were measured to identify the reasons why the TTT and TFT-R23 produced deeper CCD than any other methods. Methods: This prospective randomized cross-over trial compared TTT with TFT-R23. A total of 37 doctors conducted 2 min single-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation using TTT and TFT-R23 in a random order using a 3-month-old sized infant manikin laid on the floor. The chest compression to ventilation ratio was set to 15 : 2. In addition, finger strengths were measured using a pinch meter. Results: The actual CCD of the TTT was significantly deeper than that of the TFT-R23 (41.3±1.3 vs. 39.8±1.5 mm, P<0.001). Although the hands-off time of the TTT was significantly longer than that of the TFT-R23 (55.6±5.7 vs. 53.6±5.8 s, P=0.002), the mean difference was only 2.0±3.7 s (95% confidence interval: 0.755–3.245). The finger strength of the TTT was significantly higher than that of TFT-R23 (23.8±10.1 vs. 13.7±5.1 kg, P<0.001). Conclusion: The TTT produced deeper CCD compared with that of the TFT-R23 because the finger strength of the TTT was significantly higher than that of the TFT-R23.