Treatment of urinary calculi in the combat zone.

Renal colic is a common condition among deployed soldiers in the Middle East. Eight percent of all admissions to the jump package of the 21st Combat Support Hospital in Mosul, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom involved patients with renal colic and urinary stones. The majority of patients were treated successfully with primary care measures. Fourteen percent of patients required urologic interventions; however, many of these soldiers were treated with ureteral stents and returned to duty. Aggressive management of urolithiasis resulted in 92% of soldiers remaining in the combat zone, preserving the fighting strength of supported units.

Ultrasonography in a forward-deployed military hospital.

Military medical units must be flexible and mobile to keep up with maneuver units on the modern battlefield. The requirements for unit mobility and maneuverability preclude bulky advanced radiologic imaging support, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging systems. Portable sonography is rapid, reliable, efficient, and user-friendly; it markedly expanded the diagnostic capability of our forward-deployed combat support hospital during Operation Iraqi Freedom. More than 400 ultrasound studies were performed during the first 6 months of hospital operations in Iraq. The use of this technology on the battlefield improved our ability to provide definitive, quality, medical care far forward and to preserve the fighting strength of supported units.