[Selective interpretation of the "Guidelines and recommendations for targeted neonatal echocardiography and cardiac point-of-care ultrasound in the neonatal intensive care unit: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography"]

Targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE) refers to the purposeful use of echocardiography to assess neonatal cardiovascular physiology and hemodynamics, with the aim of improving diagnosis and treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit. Neonatal cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (cPOCUS) is a limited cardiovascular evaluation focused on catheter tip position assessment, identification of pericardial effusion, and differentiation between hypovolemia and severe reduction in myocardial contractility in hemodynamically unstable neonates. The guideline "Guidelines and recommendations for targeted neonatal echocardiography and cardiac point-of-care ultrasound in the neonatal intensive care unit: an update from the American Society of Echocardiography" covers five main areas: (1) purpose and basic principles of TNE and cPOCUS; (2) an overview of the components of a standard TNE and cPOCUS evaluation; (3) disease- and/or clinical scenario-based indications for TNE; (4) training and competency-based assessment requirements for TNE and cPOCUS; and (5) components of quality assurance. This article selectively interprets the first two areas of the guideline.