ED point-of-care ultrasonography is associated with earlier drainage of pericardial effusion: A retrospective cohort study

•POCUS utilization by emergency physicians for pericardial effusions increased as infrastructure and workflow changes were made to the ultrasound program•POCUS performed by the emergency physician is associated with earlier drainage of pericardial effusion•POCUS performed by the emergency physician was not associated with mortality•In patients with eventual pericardial fluid drainage, failure to diagnose pericardial effusion by any means in the ED was associated with increased mortality