The feasibility of monitoring trauma patients with a wireless, wearable Doppler ultrasound.

BACKGROUND

Early detection of reduced stroke volume (SV) or cardiac output (CO) may expedite resuscitative interventions during traumatic hemorrhage; corrected carotid artery flow time (ccFT) has been proposed as a surrogate for SV during blood volume loss.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the feasibility of using a wireless, wearable Doppler ultrasound capable of measuring ccFT in traumatically injured patients at a level 1 trauma center. A convenience sample of 33 patients was enrolled. We assessed device placement, data transfer and capture, and signal quality by assessing the ability to capture at least 15 consecutive cardiac cycles in the minute prior to blood pressure monitor cycling. A post hoc analysis examined ccFT variations between transfused and non-transfused patients.

RESULTS

Device placement succeeded in 94% of patients (n = 31) and the data were captured and transferred from all 31. The consecutive cardiac cycles before blood pressure measurement exceeded 15 (p = .015) in 93% of patients (n = 28). We observed ccFT below 270 ms and longer time spent under this threshold during resuscitation in transfused patients. Patients with low ccFT experienced more severe injuries and longer hospital and ICU stays.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study that demonstrates the feasibility of using a wearable Doppler ultrasound in trauma patients on admission to the trauma bay. Although findings suggest that ccFT could serve as an early marker of hemodynamic compromise, further large-scale, multicenter studies are needed to validate its predictive value and clinical utility in guiding trauma resuscitation.