Primena ultrazvuka u urgentnoj medicini i resuscitaciji

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this paper is to show the concept of the treatment of the patients in cardiac arrest and the achievements and advantages of the use of ultrasound in cardiac arrest, comparing existing protocols for emergency care with the protocols we developed in the Resuscitation Council of Serbia and in cooperation with other national councils, the possibility of delayed application of ultrasound in order to further final diagostics and the establishment of therapeutic procedures as well as the use of ultrasound during transport and prolonged field care under out-of-hospital conditions (transport longer than 45 min) or work in the “remote area” in mountain areas. METHODOLOGY: The methodology of work reviewed literature (books, published articles) in the field of the application of ultrasound in emergency medicine. The bibliography database MEDLINE was used as a browser. THE RESULTS: According to the latest guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council, the use of ultrasound is recommended for the determination of reversible causes in cardiac arrest. Procedures that are carried out to determine reversible causes of cardiac arrest fall under red-eye procedures and these patients require urgent care. Ultrasonography has a place in diagnosing the following reversible causes of cardiac arrest: tension pneumothorax, hypoxemia, hypovolaemia, cardiac tamponade and pulmonary thromboembolism. Procedures that work in the yellow and green zone give the possibility of delayed application of ultrasound aiming for final diagnostics and establishment of therapeutic procedures. The use of ultrasound can be beneficial during transportation and prolonged field care in outhospital conditions (transport longer than 45 min) or work in the remote areas in mountains. One of the procedures in the yellow or green zone is the application of the FAST protocol. CONCLUSION: The use of ultrasound in emergency medicine, according to available literature, points to the benefit of implementing these diagnostic procedures in order to better and better manage critically ill patients. The education of the physiscians dealing with emergency medicine in the field of ultrasonography leads to a decrease in human resources and more efficient treatment of patients and to the possibility of implementing salvage (red procedures) in life-threatening conditions.