Role of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Early Stages of Trauma Care

Purpose of Review: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been widely adopted in the management of trauma patients by emergency and surgical specialists. Advances in technology, portability, and affordability have contributed to its exponential growth, particularly in the field of trauma anesthesia where ultrasound usage has steadfastly blossomed in recent years. Recent Findings: Studies and protocols have expanded beyond the oft-used focused assessment with sonography for trauma examination to include focused cardiac and lung examinations. POCUS may also be useful as an adjunct for airway management, vascular access, and intracranial pressure assessment. There has been a push to incorporate ultrasound use by paramedics and physicians in the pre-hospital trauma setting as well. Summary: In this review, we discuss POCUS applications in the early stages of trauma care while emphasizing more recently published literature. This review is targeted toward anesthesia providers who wish to familiarize themselves with evidence-based applications of POCUS in various trauma settings.