Abstract

The use of point-of-care ultrasound in ambulances has recently gained attention as a valuable tool for enhancing patient care and diagnostic accuracy. This study aims to investigate the necessity of implementing point-of-care ultrasound in Saudi Arabia's ambulance services it worth to mentioning, there is no ultrasound in the pre-hospital services in Saudi Arabia . The findings of the study will provide important insights into the potential benefits of using point-of-care ultrasound in Saudi Arabia's ambulance services and inform policymakers' decision-making. It is expected that results will also contribute to the broader adoption of point-of-care ultrasound in emergency medical care in other countries The research aims to anticipate the necessity of point of care ultrasound in Saudi’s ambulance. The research was conducted retrospectively by collecting two separate sources of secondary data of 399 patients records. One is from the emergency medical services department of Royal Commission Health Services in Jubail (RCH). The second source is from RCH’s hospital only from emergency department (ER). The study found that using ultrasound in prehospital patients has both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, and there is statistical significance to support its use. The applicability of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) varied depending on the type of call. Additionally, there was a correlation between the use of ultrasound and the ability to develop a suspected diagnosis in prehospital care. The data analysis also revealed that there was a variation in ultrasound test findings in the ER, with 100 out of 228 patients (43.86%) needing FAST conducted there instead of on the ambulance en route to the hospital. Out of the 106 cases (46.49%) with positive ultrasound findings, this information could be shared by paramedics to prepare the hospital for incoming patients and help reduce delays in patient care. We conclude the ultrasound is demand in the pre-hospital service of Saudi Arabia.

Key words: Ultrasound, Sonography, Prehospital, Emergency Medical Services.