Page 151 - JSOM Spring 2018

An Ongoing Series

I Can’t Breathe—A SIPe of Water

Mariusz K. Urbaniak ; Katarzyna (Kasia) Hampton, MD *
2
1

uring a nighttime hostage rescue mission, your team un- FIGURE 1 Lung ultrasound findings observed bilaterally.
Ddertakes a strenuous swim in cold water. Shortly after
climbing on board of a large watercraft, one of your team-
mates becomes acutely ill. He is short of breath and he is
coughing a lot. Thankfully, your team has successfully elimi-
nated the threat and you can focus on helping your buddy.

At your initial assessment, you note the following: heart rate,
105 beats/min; blood pressure, 145/95mmHg; respiratory rate,
30/min; SPo , 91% on room air; temperature, 35.5°C (95.9°F).
2
This 41-year-old man is in moderate respiratory distress, and
even without a stethoscope, you can hear him wheezing. He
shakes his head, however, when you ask him about a history
of asthma.
Therefore, before attempting therapy, you hook up a pocket-
size ultrasound transducer to your smartphone.
2. What easily treatable risk factor could contribute to this
1. What specific diagnosis is likely, and what suggestive find- condition?
ings are present in Figure 1?
Join us at SOFsono.org for further case discussion.

*Address correspondence to sofsono.org@gmail.com
1 Mr Urbaniak is a medical professional within the Polish Armed Forces. Dr Hampton is an emergency physician and a volunteer subject matter
2
expert ultrasound instructor for the military medical community. She is currently practicing at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany
(US Army Medical Department).
145