Ultrasound Use by Special Operations Combat Medics: A Narrative Review Limited to the JSOM.

Abstract

Background: Ultrasonography has seen increasing integration into the clinical practice of Special Operations Combat Medics (SOCMs). However, there is limited literature available that describes SOCM use of ultrasonography. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of how SOCMs use ultrasound in clinical practice and explore proposed future applications.

Methods: A PubMed search was conducted for articles discussing ultrasonography in the context of Special Operations medicine. This search initially included a broad PubMed search followed by a targeted search limited to the Journal of Special Operations Medicine. Inclusion criteria for this targeted search encompassed articles describing ultrasound use or advocating for ultrasound use in SOCM clinical practice.

Results: The search was conducted in October 2023 and yielded 120 publications, of which 20 met inclusion criteria and are summarized in this review. Among these articles, 50% focused on cardiovascular applications, 35% on musculoskeletal applications, 20% on abdominal assessments (E-FAST exam), 15% on respiratory applications, and 10% on neurologic applications. Only 40% of the articles described operational use, while 60% advocated for use. Finally, 56.5% of the articles described diagnostic applications, while 43.5% pertained to procedural applications.

Conclusion: SOCM use of ultrasonography likely differs from in-hospital provider use of ultrasonography. To improve ultrasound education for SOCMs, educators should consider customization of the curriculum to align with the unique mission requirements of individual units and an increased emphasis on procedure-based training.