Tactical Austere& Prehospital Ultrasound (TAPUS)

The Tactical APUS course is an intensive, single-day programme desgined to equip operational medics with high-yield, mission-relevant point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) skills for use in austere, prehospital, and tactical environments. The curriculum is deliberately focused on two critical ultrasound applications with the greatest impact on early decision-making in resource-limited and time-sensitive settings: the Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (eFAST) and intracranial pressure (ICP) estimation via optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement.

The instructional design prioritises hands-on skill acquisition, with a high instructor-to-student ratio and practical scanning sessions using live models and simulation. Scenario-based training reinforces the translation of ultrasound findings into actionable clinical decisions within realistic tactical contexts, including prolonged field care, delayed evacuation, and constrained resource settings.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

· Perform a complete eFAST examination in a tactical or austere setting.

· Accurately identify key pathological findings relevant to trauma care.

· Measure and interpret optic nerve sheath diameter as a surrogate for raised ICP.

· Integrate ultrasound findings into triage, treatment, and evacuation decisions.

· Operate portable ultrasound devices effectively under field conditions.

This course is ideally suited for Combat Medics, Special Operations medical personnel, remote paramedics, and other healthcare providers operating in environments where conventional imaging is unavailable or delayed. It serves as a foundational module within the broader Austere Point-of-Care Ultrasound (APUS) framework, with direct applicability to prolonged casualty care and operational medicine.