Whole body ultrasound in the operating room and intensive care unit

Abstract

Whole body ultrasound can be used to improve speed and accuracy of evaluation of an increasing number of organ systems in the critically ill. Cardiac and abdominal ultrasound can be used to identify the mechanisms and etiology of hemodynamic instability. In hypoxemia or hypercarbia, lung ultrasound can rapidly identify the etiology with accuracy that is equivalent to computed tomography. For encephalopathy, ocular ultrasound and transcranial Doppler can identify elevated intracranial pressure and midline shift. Renal and bladder ultrasound can identify mechanisms and etiology of renal failure. Ultrasound can also improve accuracy and safety of percutaneous procedures and should be currently ..