Overview Echocardiography is one of the most powerful diagnostic and monitoring tools available to the modern intensivist. Although its potential was first recognized more than 20 years ago, only recently has it become a mainstream imaging application in the intensive…
Overview Since its early use in intensive care unit (ICU) settings by pioneers, echocardiography has been increasingly performed in critically ill patients because it provides unparalleled information on central hemodynamics. Initially, real-time morphologic and hemodynamic information, ease of use, portability,…
Overview The first reported use of ultrasound to assess cardiac function was almost 60 years ago. Technologic advances have now placed echocardiography as the intensivist’s only option for bedside visualization of cardiac anatomy and function in real time. Although echocardiography…
Overview Convex probe endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is used for diagnosing (and staging) intrathoracic lymphadenopathy in lung cancer, other intrathoracic tumors, and lymphadenopathy from extrathoracic malignancies. The aspiration yield for benign causes of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy is less than with…
Overview Lung ultrasound is becoming a standard diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the management of intensive care unit (ICU) patients, as analyzed extensively in this section of the book. It helps the clinician to rapidly evaluate thoracic pathologies and guide…
Overview Mechanically ventilated patients often have contraindications to transport outside a monitored setting. Ultrasound is an alternative to traditional imaging techniques in the critical care environment because of its portability, absence of radiation, and real-time image acquisition. This chapter will…
Overview Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical entity characterized by acute inflammatory lung injury, increased pulmonary vascular permeability and lung weight, as well as loss of aerated lung tissue. The clinical hallmarks of ARDS are hypoxemia, bilateral opacities…
Overview The great potential of ultrasound in the study of lung parenchyma lies in its ability to detect alterations in parenchymal density resulting from loss of alveolar air with or without increase of interstitial fluids. Moreover, pleural disorders can be…
Overview Pleural ultrasound is influenced particularly by the presence of ribs and aerated lung. Ribs provide a shadowing artifact that completely blocks the transmission of ultrasound waves. Aerated lung is a powerful reflector of ultrasound waves and creates a typical…
A-line: Sonographic reverberations of the pleural line. These hyperechoic horizontal lines appear at regular intervals deep to the pleural line and between the rib shadows. B-line: Also called a lung rocket, this hyperechoic vertical sonographic artifact arises from the inferior…