The Feasibility and Impact of Routine Combined Limited Transthoracic Echocardiography and Lung Ultrasound on Diagnosis and Management of Patients Admitted to ICU: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Objectives: Limited transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and lung ultrasound increasingly is performed in the intensive care unit (ICU), though used in a goal-directed rather than routine manner. Design: Prospective observational study. Settings: Tertiary ICU. Participants: Ninety-three critically ill participants within 24 hours of admission to ICU. Methods: A treating intensivist documented a clinical diagnosis and management plan before and after combined limited TTE and lung ultrasound. Ultrasound was performed by an independent intensivist and checked for accuracy offline by a second reviewer. Results: Ultrasound images were interpretable in 99%, with good interobserver agreement. The h..