POCUS T3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Point of Care Ultrasound Top to Toe in Trauma
IRAS ID
356996
Contact name
Sam Hutchings
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Patients with severe traumatic injury present with a complex array of problems and timely diagnosis is vital. Modern trauma systems in the developed world are built around prompt access to CT scanning which is key to accurately detailing injuries and prioritising urgent treatment. However, remote and austere settings, such as those encountered by military clinicians during operations often lack reliable access to CT scanning.
Ultrasound offers an alternative to CT imaging. Whilst it has some disadvantages, being slower and arguably more user dependent, it is readily portable and relatively inexpensive.The proposed study seeks to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a protocol that uses ultrasound imaging in the setting of acute traumatic injury. Patients will be recruited soon after admission to hospital and trained investigators will conduct a series of ultrasound scans alongside standard management. We will compare the results of these ultrasound scans to CT imaging which all patients undergo as part of a standard package of management. Ultrasound scans will be conducted to detect life threatening injuries in all areas of the body, including brain, chest and abdomen.
We will use the findings of the study to develop and improve our initial protocol which we will then seek to introduce into deployed military clinical practice. This will close an important gap in the provision of emergency treatment to casualties injured in remote settings where CT scans are limited or unavailable.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0872
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion