Ultrasound-Guided Disposition: Submersion Injury

Both radiographs and pulmonary ultrasonography can inform diagnosis, severity, prognosis, clinical change, management, and disposition of submersion injury patients. Radiography is not typically available at the point of injury or in austere settings. However, ultrasound can provide real-time information at the point of care, facilitating timelier disposition toward greater resources of care. A 25-year-old male presented to the emergency department with an acute submersion injury from water aspiration during snorkel training exercises as a part of U.S. Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer training. Pulmonary ultrasound was utilized as an initial diagnostic tool, to follow clinical course, and as an adjunct to radiography. This case study demonstrates the potential to provide more thorough, timely, reproducible, and repeatable assessments of a submersion-injured patient's lung parenchyma than traditional chest radiography. Pulmonary ultrasonography can be utilized at the point of injury and in austere settings, enabling real-time decision-making and prognostication.