Ultrasound as a tool in prehospital settings: a scoping review.

ABSTRACT: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a valuable tool in the prehospital management of critically ill patients, particularly patients with trauma, dyspnea, or shock. This review aims to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic applications, limitations, and implementation challenges of POCUS in prehospital care. Key findings are that ultrasound, particularly the extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) protocol, offers high specificity in identifying severe hemorrhage in trauma cases, although its sensitivity varies depending on the clinical context and operator experience. In dyspnea, pulmonary ultrasound significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy, aiding early detection of heart failure and other respiratory conditions. For shock, focused echocardiography facilitates ra

SUBMITTER: Pineros-Alvarez JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12861705 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature