"Reducing the burden on the local healthcare was probably one of the major advantages.” The Role of Remote Teleradiology With Niccolo Stomeo

World Extreme Medicine Podcast

In this episode, Niccolo Stomeo, an anaesthesia and intensive care resident at Humanitas University in Milan, joins us to discuss his groundbreaking study on the role of remote teleradiology, X-ray, and POCUS at mass motorcycle events. Nico shares his firsthand experience from the 2021 International Six Days of Enduro, a challenging and dynamic race spanning a vast area between Lombardia and Piemonte in Italy.

Throughout the conversation, we delve into the utility, limitations, and decision-making benefits of having portable digital X-ray and telemedicine available in remote field hospital settings. Nico highlights the importance of having a full team, including a radiology technician, nurses, doctors, and an orthopaedic surgeon, to maximise the effectiveness of this technology.

We explore the challenges faced during the study, such as power supply, radiation exposure, and the need for reliable Wi-Fi and cellular connections to enable remote consultation with radiologists. Nico also shares the direct benefits observed, including the ability to provide definitive treatment on-site, reduce the burden on local healthcare systems, and allow athletes to continue racing when injuries are ruled out.

Looking towards the future, Nico emphasises the need for larger, well-controlled studies to further validate the findings and improve external validity. He also stresses the importance of data collection and analysis in pre-hospital care settings to identify areas for improvement and advance the quality of care provided.

Join us for this captivating discussion on the cutting-edge of emergency medicine in extreme environments, and discover how remote teleradiology is shaping the future of medical care at mass sporting events.

To read Niccolo’s study, click here.