Overview The approaches to examination of patients by clinical providers has evolved with the growth of medical knowledge and expectations of quality care. Though still primarily relying on their senses, physicians have been adding basic equipment (e.g., scale, stethoscope) and…
Anatomy The oval-shaped kidneys, measuring 9 to 15 cm in length and 4 to 6 cm in width, are located in retroperitoneum between the 12th thoracic and 4th lumbar vertebrae, just lateral to the psoas muscles. The kidneys are surrounded…
Overview Abdominal ultrasound can be used to obtain images of the hepatobiliary, urogenital, and pelvic structures. The approach to the urogenital system, point-of-care pelvic ultrasound, focused assessment with sonography for trauma, and other subjects are discussed in Chapter 42, Chapter…
Ultrasound-guided vascular access (UGVA) was introduced in the preceding chapter. This chapter highlights a few tips for novices as well as additional techniques and innovations that would assist skilled operators in definitively identifying the target vessel and improving catheterization in…
Procedural and diagnostic vascular ultrasound applications are essential in the intensive care unit (ICU). This chapter presents a synopsis of arterial disorders, whereas evaluation of venous thrombosis and ultrasound-guided vascular procedures are presented in Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11,…
Overview Multipurpose ultrasound systems offer a variety of eye and orbit imaging techniques relevant to critical care. Bedside ocular ultrasound can be used for the following purposes: (1) timely identification of threats to ocular health and vision and prevention of…
Overview The role of transcranial color coded Doppler (TCCD) in neurocritical monitoring has been illustrated in previous chapters. We will here focus on its use as a confirmatory test in the diagnosis of brain death (BD). The concept of death…
Christian Doppler was born in Salzburg, Austria on November 29, 1803 and lived a short and deprived life, like many scientists of his time. In an 1842 session of the Science Section of the Royal Bohemian Society in Prague, he…