Prehospital ultrasound in trauma: A review of current and potential future clinical applications

Abstract

Ultrasound (US) is an essential tool for evaluating trauma patients in the hospital setting. Many previous in-hospital studies have been extrapolated to out of hospital setting to improve diagnostic accuracy in prehospital and austere environments. This review article presents the role of prehospital US in blunt and penetrating trauma management with emphasis on its current clinical applications, challenges, and future implications of such use. © 2018 Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow.