Portable Ultrasound as an Adjunct in Penetrating Trauma

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasound has a major role in the initial assessment and management of penetrating trauma and can be an important adjunct to physical examination. Its most important role is to triage which body cavity has been injured and rapidly identify blood collecting in the abdomen, chest or pericardium. – It does not however identify which organ has been injured. After limited focussed training, most practitioners can achieve high levels of accuracy. Focussed ultrasound is accurate and quick at detecting pneumothoraces by looking for the absence of artefacts and signs normally seen (sliding, comet tails and seashore sign on M Mode). It allows direct visualisation of the IVC to assess the volume status and can be a valuable adjunct in guided procedures (thoracic and pericardial drainage and vascular access)