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Paul B McBeth,
Innes Crawford,
Michael Blaivas,
Trevor Hamilton,
Kimberly Musselwhite, Nova Panebianco,
Lawrence Melniker,
Chad G Ball,
Luna Gargani,
Carlotta Gherdovich,
Andrew W Kirkpatrick
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ABSTRACT: Apnea (APN) and pneumothorax (PTX) are common immediately life-threatening conditions. Ultrasound is a portable tool that captures anatomy and physiology as digital information allowing it to be readily transferred by electronic means. Both APN and PTX are simply ruled out by visualizing respiratory motion at the visceral-parietal pleural interface known as lung sliding (LS), corroborated by either the M-mode or color-power Doppler depiction of LS. We thus assessed how economically and practically this information could be obtained remotely over a cellular network.
Ultrasound images were obtained on handheld ultrasound machines streamed to a standard free internet service (Skype) using an iPhone. Remote expert sonographers directed remote providers (with variable to no ultrasound experience) to obtain images by viewing the transmitted ultrasound signal and by viewing the remote examiner over a head-mounted webcam. Examinations were conducted between a series of remote sites and a base station. Remote sites included two remote on-mountain sites, a small airplane in flight, and a Calgary household, with base sites located in Pisa, Rome, Philadelphia, and Calgary.
In all lung fields (20/20) on all occasions, LS could easily and quickly be seen. LS was easily corroborated and documented through capture of color-power Doppler and M-mode images. Other ultrasound applications such as the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma examination, vascular anatomy, and a fetal wellness assessment were also demonstrated.
The emergent exclusion of APN-PTX can be immediately accomplished by a remote expert economically linked to almost any responder over cellular networks. Further work should explore the range of other physiologic functions and anatomy that could be so remotely assessed.
The Journal of trauma 12/2011; 71(6):1528-35. · 2.48 Impact Factor
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The Journal of trauma 03/2011; 70(3):760. · 2.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: 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.
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.
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.
Scandinavian Journal of Trauma Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 09/2009; 17:34. · 1.85 Impact Factor
