Prehospital Ultrasound - Can it Improve Trauma Management?

Abstract

Ultrasound examination is a very important diagnostic tool for patients with severe trauma. Nearly all of our patients with severe trauma received the examination within a few minutes after admission to the hospital. In our study we used portable ultrasound devices in a prehospital setting on four rescue bases, to study the practicability of the ultrasound diagnostic earlier and get the diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma as soon as possible. Even in difficult surrounding circumstances detection of intra-abdominal bleeding was possible and the time for the examination was less then two minutes. We need further studies to see, if there is a benefit for the outcome of the patients.

Key words

prehospital ultrasound - blunt abdominal trauma - polytrauma - trauma management - emergency medicine

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