Critical Care Ultrasonography >Seth Koenig,  Paul H. Mayo

Introduction

"Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has major application in the intensive care unit (ICU). Proficiency in TTE allows the intensivist to determine the diagnosis of cardiopulmonary failure, develop management strategies, and follow the results of therapeutic interventions with serial examinations. By definition, critical care echocardiography (CCE) is performed by the intensivist in the ICU. The clinician acquires and interprets the image at the bedside, and uses the information to guide management. It follows that the intensivist must have a high level of skill in image acquisition, which requires a working knowledge of ultrasound physics, machine controls, and transducer manipulation. This chapter will review important elements of image acquisition with emphasis on transducer manipulation. The reader is referred to Chapters 2 and 3 for a comprehensive discussion of physics and machine controls...."