Battlefield applications for handheld ultrasound.

Combat medical care provides unique challenges and opportunities for military medical teams. The austerity of the environment severely limits access to many diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Because of their compact size, handheld ultrasound (US) machines are increasingly being used in these constrained environments. A growing body of literature documents the diagnostic utility of handheld US for trauma encountered in the battlefield. Furthermore, US guidance may assist in the performance of some procedures performed in battlefield medical care. This review will provide an overview of the history, current status, limitations and potential future of US utility for the battlefield.