Military Teleconsultation Services Facilitate Prompt Recognition and Treatment of a Case of Syphilitic Uveitis Aboard a United States Navy Aircraft Carrier at Sea During Combat Operations Without Evacuation Capability

Background:In the United States Armed Forces, telemedicine can bring specialist care into the field, augmenting the capabilities of health care providers in remote, austere environments to nearly the point of injury or illness. The early intervention enabled by telemedical consultation can not only guide crucial temporizing measures to safeguard life, limb, and eyesight, but can also facilitate care in resource limited environments, potentially avoiding need for patient evacuation. In circumstances when a higher level of care is needed, but unavailable or operationally not possible, telemedicine can guide management in the field until transport can be achieved.

Methods:In the present case, a young male patient presented to medical company aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier while deployed at sea for evaluation of an acute red eye. Despite initial therapeutic measures, his vision subsequently deteriorated. Uveitis was suspected, but transport off the ship to an eye care specialist was not possible during combat operations.

Results:Telemedical consultation with shore-based ophthalmologists guided initial diagnostic and therapeutic efforts, resulting in the presumed diagnosis of syphilitic uveitis. With remote support of ophthalmology and infectious disease specialist care, the patient was treated at sea for this vision-threatening condition. As operational conditions allowed, the patient was later evacuated to definitive care.

Conclusions:At follow up after treatment, the patient had an excellent visual outcome, and was promptly returned to duty.