ROLE OF POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND PERFORMED BY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF ABDOMINAL AND OBSTETRIC CONDITIONS

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound has emerged as an important diagnostic extension of the physical examination in primary care, particularly for time-sensitive abdominal and obstetric conditions. Objective: To evaluate the role, diagnostic accuracy, clinical impact, and limitations of point-of-care ultrasound performed by primary care physicians in the early diagnosis of abdominal and obstetric conditions. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LILACS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and ICTRP, including studies published within the last five years, with predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and structured qualitative synthesis. Results and Discussion: Twenty studies met the eligibility criteria, demonstrating that point-of-care ultrasound performed by trained primary care physicians improves early diagnostic accuracy, reduces time to referral, and supports clinical decision-making in abdominal pain, early pregnancy complications, and obstetric screening, although heterogeneity in training and outcomes was observed. Conclusion: Point-of-care ultrasound represents a valuable diagnostic tool in primary care for early identification of abdominal and obstetric conditions, provided that standardized training and quality assurance are implemented.