Point-of-care ultrasound in nutrition assessment and enteral nutrition management of critically ill children: a scoping review

Background and aims Enteral nutrition is essential for improving outcomes in critically ill children, but its implementation is challenged by difficulties in nutrition assessment, feeding tube placement, and gastrointestinal function monitoring. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a potential bedside tool to support these processes. However, its applications in critically ill children remain heterogeneous and lack standardization. This scoping review aimed to map the current applications and characteristics of POCUS in nutrition assessment and enteral nutrition management in this population. Methods This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Seven English databases and four Chinese databases were systematically searched since establishment to 30 November 2025. Articles reported on the POCUS in nutrition assessment and enteral nutrition management of critically ill children were eligible for inclusion and data extraction. Data were extracted and synthesized descriptively. The protocol was prospectively registered on Open Science Framework 1 on 12 December 2025. Results The initial search identified 432 studies, and 32 were included in this review. This scoping review demonstrates a recent and strong focus on this field, with 65.6% ( n = 21) of the included studies published within the last 5 years. The majority ( n = 16) were prospective cohort studies. POCUS was applied across three primary functions in critically ill children’s nutrition management: muscle mass assessment ( n = 20), facilitation of feeding tube insertion and positioning ( n = 6), and measurement of gastric residual volume and motility ( n = 6). Substantial heterogeneity was identified in ultrasound protocols, anatomical landmarks, and measurement indicators across studies. Conclusion Current evidence suggests that POCUS has diverse bedside applications in nutrition assessment and enteral nutrition management in critically ill children, particularly for muscle mass evaluation, feeding tube management, and gastrointestinal function assessment. Despite growing research interest in this field, evidence remains methodologically inconsistent, limiting the comparability and clinical translation of findings. Future research should prioritize the development of standardized protocols and training frameworks to support the integration of POCUS into pediatric critical care nutrition practice. Systematic review registration https://osf.io/k4acf/ , osf.io/k4acf.