Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Austere Environments: A Complete Review of Its Utilization, Pitfalls, and Technique for Common Applications in Austere Settings

Laleh Gharahbaghian; Kenton L Anderson; Viveta Lobo; Rwo-Wen Huang; Cori McClure Poffenberger; Phi D Nguyen

doi:10.1016/j.emc.2016.12.007

Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Austere Environments: A Complete Review of Its Utilization, Pitfalls, and Technique for Common Applications in Austere Settings

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2017 May;35(2):409-441. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2016.12.007.

Authors

Laleh Gharahbaghian¹, Kenton L Anderson², Viveta Lobo³, Rwo-Wen Huang³, Cori McClure Poffenberger³, Phi D Nguyen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Emergency Ultrasound Program, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Alway Building M121, Stanford, CA 94304, USA. Electronic address: Lalehg@stanford.edu.
² Emergency Ultrasound Research and Scholarly Activity, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Alway Building M121, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.
³ Emergency Ultrasound Program, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Alway Building M121, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.
⁴ Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency Program, 300 Pasteur Drive, Alway Building M121, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.

PMID: 28411935
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2016.12.007

Abstract

With the advent of portable ultrasound machines, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has proven to be adaptable to a myriad of environments, including remote and austere settings, where other imaging modalities cannot be carried. Austere environments continue to pose special challenges to ultrasound equipment, but advances in equipment design and environment-specific care allow for its successful use. This article describes the technique and illustrates pathology of common POCUS applications in austere environments. A brief description of common POCUS-guided procedures used in austere environments is also provided.

Keywords: Austere; Battlefield; Disaster; High altitude; Military; Point of care; Resource limited; Ultrasound.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Altitude
Disasters
Emergency Medical Services / methods*
Humans
Mass Casualty Incidents
Military Medicine / methods
Point-of-Care Systems* / standards
Point-of-Care Systems* / statistics & numerical data
Ultrasonography / instrumentation*