Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Medical Management of Marathoners and Spectators: A Case Series

Temporary field hospitals play a crucial role in providing medical care to individuals who experience illnesses and injuries during mass gathering events. Handheld point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) devices offer an affordable and portable adjunct for emergency care. We present multiple patients from a field hospital during a marathon event in which handheld POCUS devices changed clinical management.

A 75-year-old man who had fallen was able to be discharged after a lung exam confirmed no rib fractures or pneumothorax. A hypotensive and hypoglycemic 21-year-old man had an echocardiogram confirming volume depletion. He received treatment, and a repeat exam demonstrated improvement, which facilitated discharge. Finally, an ultrasound-guided intravenous catheter was placed in a 27-year-old woman with difficult vascular access.

Point-of-care ultrasound facilitated the triage and evaluation of conditions such as fractures, pneumothorax, altered mental status, chest pain, and dehydration in a field hospital. The portability, availability, and affordability of handheld POCUS devices allowed for quick and convenient access to real-time imaging of marathon runners and event spectators. By leveraging these advantages, field hospitals can enhance their capability to deliver efficient and comprehensive medical care to patients during mass gathering events.