The idea of Lung Ultrasound was viewed as a technical impossibility less than 10 years ago in most clinical and diagnostic imaging circles. However, through the work and dedication of multiple researchers and authors around the world, it is now one of the fastest spreading applications in point of care ultrasound. Its utility is seen in a multitude of clinical specialties including critical care, surgery, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, pulmonology, general internal medicine, pediatrics and many others.

      Lung ultrasound offers point of care diagnosis of life threatening diseases, acute and chronic processes and vastly surpasses chest x-rays in almost all situations. Recent reports have suggested multiple diagnostic advantages over computed tomography of the chest, beyond the established advantages of cost, availability, bedside feasibility and lack of ionizing radiation.

      As expertise and research grow there is a need for consensus on the performance and interpretation of Lung Ultrasound. In addition, future research and ultrasound equipment development may be improved and made more efficient by the creation of common terminology and protocols as well as establishment of the most up to date standards.

     WINFOCUS and the INTERNATIONAL LIAISON COMMITEE on PLEURAL & LUNG ULTRASOUND (ILC PLUS) are bringing together nearly all of the top authors in the field to discuss the state of the art of Lung Ultrasound and establish consensus criteria for its performance and interpretation.

This is the first such conference and will aid the progress of this incredible ultrasound application into the practices of more clinicians around the world.

    Due to the number of items to be discussed the teamwork will be developed along three sessions, jointly to other official Winfocus events, held in the same site with collateral public debate, courses, workshops, poster and oral presentations, mostly focused on such innovative area:

1st ICC PLUS ~ 1st Session: Nov 28-29, 2009  @Airport Bologna Sheraton Hotel, Bologna, Italy
+ 4th Winfocus Italy Congress: Nov 28-30, 2009 

1st ICC PLUS ~ 2nd Session: May 10-12, 2010  @National Research Council, Pisa, Italy 
+ 1st Italian Lung Ultrasound Symposium, May 30 - June 1, 2010 

1st ICC PLUS ~ 3rd Session: Oct 7-9, 2010  @UCSC University & A. Gemelli Hospital,  Rome, Italy 
+ 6th WINFOCUS World Congress, Oct 8-12, 2010 
+ 1st World Congress on US-guided Vascular Access, Oct 8-10, 2010

The 2nd International Conference will be held in Paris (France) on June 2011, together with the 1st World Congress on Pleural and Lung UltraSound.