Enhancing Emergency Care in Tonga

The use of ultrasound in critical care dramatically improves patient outcomes.

A group of emergency physicians funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade have been actively building the capability of emergency care in Tonga for several years.

The main focus of this effort has been the education of staff in the emergency department at Vaiola and Vava’u with NZ and Australian personnel visiting Tonga, and with Tongan personnel visiting Aotearoa.

As a result of their efforts ultrasound is now a core part of emergency care in Tonga.

The current barriers to improved ultrasound utility in Tonga are access to up to date equipment. Recently the department acquired access to a Sonosite Edge II which is used for 20 days a year in the 'rheumatic heart disease' screening program.

If we are able to provide a linear probe, this machine could be used for POCUS in the emergency department the remainder of the time

What Is Needed?

1 x linear probe to be used on the recently supplied Edge II devices

This will be an excellent addition to the small but growing capacity to provide point of care ultrasound in the critical care setting in Tonga.