Hocus Pocus! What's the Use of POCUS and POCDUS?
Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) and Point-of-Care Doppler Ultrasound (POCDUS) are imaging modality used increasingly in visualization of soft tissue and vascular trauma secondary to gunshot wound. POCUS and POCDUS are noninvasive, cheap, and fast tools of diagnosis employed for preliminary head to toe examination of trauma patients. The Ultrasound Journal published a case study where a 21-year-old lady standing outside her house, presented with severe acute pain in neck with no history of trauma or assault. A gun-shot injury was diagnosed using POCUS and POCDUS. Initial examination revealed a gunshot entry point on left side of neck. POCUS demonstrated swelling of soft tissue along with hematoma in close proximity of left carotid artery. Two pseudoaneurysms were also found on left common carotid artery via POCUS. The blood supply was examined using POCDUS, which revealed turbulent blood flow in pseudoaneurysm. CT-angiogram confirmed the diagnosis. Patients was managed along the guidelines of gunshot injuries as well as stent was inserted in carotid artery. Even though, vascular injuries, particularly concealed injuries, secondary to penetrating trauma are difficult to manage but use of advanced imaging techniques help in timely diagnosis and hence ensures management accordingly. Source: POCUS and POCDUS: essential tools for the evaluation and management of carotid artery pseudoaneurysms after a gunshot wound https://theultrasoundjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13089-020-00182-7 (Image taken from https://theultrasoundjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13089-020-00182-7)
