Abstract

Chest diagnostic imaging is essential when dealing with a critically ill patient. At present, direct visualization of the lung parenchyma is performed with a chest x-ray and computed tomography with the patient in the supine position. The relative ease of bedside ultrasound examination and the availability of user-friendly, inexpensive, portable equipment have made chest ultrasonography an interesting and alternative method in various situations, because it offers accurate information that is of therapeutic and diagnostic relevance. We describe equipment and examination technique, normal findings, and chest ultrasonography signs detected in some pathological situations, such as pneumothorax, consolidations, pleural effusions, ARDS, and pulmonary edema.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Gardelli G, Feletti F, Nanni A, Mughetti M, Piraccini A, Zompatori M

Institution

Unità Operativa di Radiologia, Presidio Ospedaliero di Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy.

Source

Respiratory care 57:5 2012 May pg 773-81

MeSH

Humans
Intensive Care
Patient Positioning
Point-of-Care Systems
Radiography, Thoracic
Respiratory Tract Diseases

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22546298