Ultrasonography in the Critical Care Unit

Purpose of review: This article summarizes the utility and evidence supporting the use of ultrasound exams in the intensive care unit.

Recent findings: Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is widely used by intensivists managing critically ill patients whereby they can accurately and rapidly assess for many pathologies such as pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, hydronephrosis, hemoperitoneum, and deep vein thrombosis among others. Basic and advanced critical care echocardiography, including transesophageal echocardiography, are routinely performed to determine the etiology of hemodynamic instability in undifferentiated shock and to guide subsequent therapy. The use of POCUS in the assessment of volume status is controversial with studies demonstrating that respiratory variation of the IVC is not reliable and with analysis of aortic blood flow velocity after passive leg raising maneuvers being the most promising. Point-of-care ultrasonography allows frontline clinicians to make real-time diagnoses and treatment decisions. This article will provide the reader with a broad overview of this important topic.

Keywords: Critical care ultrasonography; Echocardiography; Intensivist; POCUS; Point-of-care ultrasonography.