ABSTRACT
Healthcare provision is frequently discussed in a hospital setting with almost ‘unlimited’ resources. Patients may undergo a myriad of exams and speciality consults, and a high number of therapeutic interventions. However, in austere environment, resources are limited. Medical assistance should focus on expedite diagnosis of life-threatening condition, timely interventions, and critical decision regarding the need to transfer high-risk patients. One of the main advances for this setting was the development of Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and portable machines. Continuous research provides evidence to support wider use of POCUS in several scenarios, especially due to its portability, ease-of-use, lack of ionising radiation, quick assessment, and other advantages. A high number of conditions may be evaluated using POCUS, yielding favourable results. At remote locations, life-threatening conditions may be diagnosed and managed by performing three exams: e-FAST, RUSH protocol, and Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter (ONSD) measurement. Although POCUS may also be applied in several other situations including interventional procedures, this chapter summarises the necessary equipment and main applications of POCUS for the specific use of life-threatening conditions in austere environment.
