Clinician performed resuscitative ultrasonography for the initial evaluation and resuscitation of trauma

doi:10.1186/1757-7241-17-34

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

Volume 17

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Gillman LM
Ball CG
Panebianco N
Al-Kadi A
Kirkpatrick AW

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Ball CG
Panebianco N
Al-Kadi A
Kirkpatrick AW
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Review

Clinician performed resuscitative ultrasonography for the initial evaluation and resuscitation of trauma

Lawrence M Gillman¹^,2 , Chad G Ball¹ , Nova Panebianco⁴ , Azzam Al-Kadi¹ and Andrew W Kirkpatrick¹^,2^,3

¹Regional Trauma Services, Calgary Heath Region and Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

²Department of Surgery, Calgary Heath Region and Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

³Department of Critical Care Medicine, Calgary Heath Region and Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

⁴Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

author email corresponding author email

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2009, 17:34doi:10.1186/1757-7241-17-34


Published:	6 August 2009

Abstract

Background

Traumatic injury is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries worldwide. Recent studies suggest that many deaths are preventable if injuries are recognized and treated in an expeditious manner – the so called 'golden hour' of trauma. Ultrasound revolutionized the care of the trauma patient with the introduction of the FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) examination; a rapid assessment of the hemodynamically unstable patient to identify the presence of peritoneal and/or pericardial fluid. Since that time the use of ultrasound has expanded to include a rapid assessment of almost every facet of the trauma patient. As a result, ultrasound is not only viewed as a diagnostic test, but actually as an extension of the physical exam.

Methods

A review of the medical literature was performed and articles pertaining to ultrasound-assisted assessment of the trauma patient were obtained. The literature selected was based on the preference and clinical expertise of authors.

Discussion

In this review we explore the benefits and pitfalls of applying resuscitative ultrasound to every aspect of the initial assessment of the critically injured trauma patient.