Ultrasound outreach and the crisis in Haiti

Assessment of Acute Obstetrical Needs and the Potential Utility of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound in the North East Region of Haiti: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) implemented through task shifting to nontraditional users has potential as a diagnostic adjuvant to enhance acute obstetrical care in resource-constrained environments with limited access to physician providers.

Objective

This study evaluated acute obstetrical needs and the potential role for POCUS programming in the North East region of Haiti.

Methods

Data was collected on all women presenting to the obstetrical departments of two Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP)-affiliated public hospitals in the North East region of Haiti: Fort Liberté Hospital and Centre Medicosocial de Ouanaminthe. Data was obtained via retrospective review of hospital records from January 1 through March 31, 2016. Trained personnel gathered data on demographics, obstetrical history, diagnoses, clinical care and outcomes using a standardized tool. Diagnoses a priori, defined as those diagnoses whose detection could be assisted with POCUS, included multi-gestations, non-vertex presentation, cephalopelvic disproportion, placental abruption, placenta previa, spontaneous abortions, retained products and ectopic pregnancy.

Results

Data were collected from 589 patients during the study period. Median maternal age was 26 years and median gestational age was 38 weeks. The most common reason for seeking care was pelvic pain (85.2%). Sixty-seven (11.5%) women were transferred to other facilities for higher-level care. Among cases not transferred, post-partum hemorrhage, infant mortality and maternal mortality occurred in 2.4%, 3.0% and 0.6% of cases, respectively. There were 69 cases with diagnoses that could have benefited from POCUS use. Between sites, significantly more cases had the potential for improved diagnostics with POCUS at Fort Liberté Hospital (19.8%) than Centre Medicosocial de Ouanaminthe (8.2%) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Acute obstetrical care is common and POCUS has the potential to impact the care of obstetrical patients in the North East region of Haiti. Future programs evaluating the feasibility of task shifting and the sustainable impacts of acute obstetric POCUS in Haiti will be important.

The utility of on-site ultrasound screening in population at high risk for deep venous thrombosis in temporary housing after the great East Japan Earthquake

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography for screening of a population at risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in a post-disaster setting.

METHODS

Ultrasonography was applied as a screening technique to the residents of a temporary housing facility who were displaced following the Great East Japan Earthquake. Thirty DVT screening sessions were held from April 2013 to June 2015. Individuals were invited to participate if they were identified as "high risk" for DVT, defined as those with low activity levels, a history of lower limb trauma, baseline lower limb pain or swelling, a cancer-bearing status, or a history of venous thromboembolic event. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed from the calf to the popliteal veins using portable devices.

RESULTS

Of the 3,316 subjects screened (682 men and 2,634 women) with a mean age of 71 ± 9.7 years, DVT was diagnosed in 382 (11.5%). DVT was more likely in older, symptomatic, or female patients with a history of venous thromboembolism and attempting to perform daily exercise. The rate of DVT diagnosis increased from 9.9% in 2013 to 13.5% in 2015.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasonography is efficient for screening at-risk populations in challenging settings. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:566-574, 2017.

Portable handheld ultrasound in austere environments: use in the Haiti disaster

INTRODUCTION

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, resulting in 222,000 deaths and 300,000 injuries. Three weeks after the initial quake, the New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team (NM DMAT-1) was deployed to Haiti for ongoing medical relief. During this deployment, a portable handheld ultrasound machine was tested for usefulness in aiding with patient care decisions.

OBJECTIVE

The utility of portable ultrasound to help with triage and patient management decisions in a major disaster setting was evaluated.

METHODS

Retrospective observational non-blinded images were obtained on 51 patients voluntarily presenting to the Gheskio Field clinic at Port-au-Prince. Ultrasound was used for evaluation of undifferentiated hypotension, torso trauma, pregnancy, non-traumatic abdominal pain, deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and dyspnea-chest pain, as well as for assisting with procedures. Scans were obtained using a Signos personal handheld ultrasound machine with images stored on a microSD card. Qualitative data were reviewed to identify whether ultrasound influenced management decisions, and results were categorized in terms of percent of scans that influenced management.

RESULTS

Fifty-one ultrasound scans on 50 patients were performed, with 35% interpreted as positive, 41% as negative, and 24% as equivocal. The highest yields of information were for abdominal ultrasound and ultrasound related to pregnancy. Ultrasound influenced decisions on patient care in 70% of scans. Most of these decisions were reflected in the clinician's confidence in discharging a patient with or without non-emergent follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The use of a handheld portable ultrasound machine was effective for patient management decisions in resource-poor settings, and decreased the need to triage selected patients to higher levels of care. Ultrasound was very useful for evaluation of non-traumatic abdominal pain. Dynamic capability is necessary for ultrasound evaluation of undifferentiated hypotension and cardiac and lung examinations. Ultrasound also was useful for guidance during procedural applications, and for aiding in the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.

An integrated ultrasound curriculum (iUSC) for medical students: 4-year experience

A review of the development and implementation of a 4-year medical student integrated ultrasound curriculum is presented. Multiple teaching and assessment modalities are discussed as well as results from testing and student surveys. Lessons learned while establishing the curriculum are summarized. It is concluded that ultrasound is a well received, valuable teaching tool across all 4 years of medical school, and students learn ultrasound well, and they feel their ultrasound experience enhances their medical education.