Development of evidence-based clinical recommendations and consensus statements in critical ultrasound field: why and how?

While ultrasound (US) has been used in medicine for several decades, its use in critical care and emergency medicine is relatively new. Clinician-performed ultrasound brings an essential imaging capability to the pointof-care in a manner that represents a true paradigm shift in the art and science of physical examination and diagnosis. The performance of ultrasound by clinicians in critical settings,''Critical Ultrasound'', has created new challenges that must be addressed by the medical community.