Handheld echocardiography for critical care

HHE can help assess chamber size ventricular function and presence of fluid collections and thus is useful in determining etiology of shock and measuring volume status. This is the first of a two-part series that reviews advanced critical care echocardiography CCE techniques designed for critical care physicians.

Handheld or hand-carried ultrasound HCU devices are small light battery powered less expensive systems with good 2D imaging quality and full Doppler capabilities often with digital and wireless communication some with stress and TEE options.

Handheld echocardiography for critical care. Miniaturized echocardiography units known as hand carried ultrasound HCU now exist with features similar to those used for standard echocardiography. The small size and low cost of these units may lead to increased availability of echocardiography to be performed by all physicians taking care of critically ill patients. Use of HCU by critical care physicians may allow for improved bedside.

This book complements the Handheld Echocardiography course run by the authors. It contains detailed information about echocardiography useful for physicians interested in doing portable echocardiography. Download Citation Hand-held echocardiography in critical care Echocardiographic systems which have the size of a laptop computer are currently available.

These hand-held ultrasound units are. Handheld or hand-carried ultrasound HCU devices are small light battery powered less expensive systems with good 2D imaging quality and full Doppler capabilities often with digital and wireless communication some with stress and TEE options. These systems can be cart mounted or hand carried and may be in an office emergency department or hospital setting to provide point-of-care ultrasound.

At the end of last year I attended a course entitled Hand Held Echo for Critical Care which was organised by Houman Ashrafian and Richard Bogle at Ealing Hospital. As a trainee in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care I felt there was a good chance that I would pick up something useful for one or other of my chosen specialties. In fact the course was hugely rewarding and in my mind I felt the concept of handheld echo.

Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for diagnosing cardiac conditions. Over the past 2 decades technological advancements have resulted in the emergence of miniaturized handheld ultrasound equipment that is compact and battery operated and handheld echocardiography can be readily performed at the point of care with reasonable image. Echocardiography is a powerful diagnostic and monitoring tool of cardiac performance cardiac pathology and extracardiac intrathoracic abnormalities.

Numerous investigations in intensive care have shown its merit being efficacious and safe. Because many obvious andor unsuspected conditions can impact the hemodynamic status of critically ill patients echocardiography is becoming an integral. Critical care ultrasound CCUS comprises ultrasound evaluation of the heart lungs pleural space intraabdominal organs nervous and vascular systems.

CCUS is designed to be used as a series of simplified focused examinations that can quickly rule in or rule out a diagnosis or guide the practitioner to perform additional investigations or procedures. In this chapter we will concentrate on two of the most common problems in the intensive care. This is the first of a two-part series that reviews advanced critical care echocardiography CCE techniques designed for critical care physicians.

In this section we review training in basic and advanced CCE. This is followed by a review of Doppler principles including pulsed wave continuous wave and color flow Doppler. Included are Doppler measurement techniques that are useful for assessing the patient with cardiopulmonary failure and the common pitfalls of Doppler.

Critical care echocardiography CCE is performed and interpreted by the intensivist at the bedside to help in the diagnostic work-up and to guide therapy for patients with acute circulatory and respiratory failure. Due to the statement of educational standards the validation of echocardiography against alternative hemodynamic monitoring tools and continuous technological improvement CCE is. The evaluation of left ventricular LV function is an essential skill for both basic and advanced critical care echocardiography CCE examination.

It allows the intensivist to categorize shock state and to determine the appropriateness of rapid volume resuscitation. Measurement of LV Function and Segmental Wall Motion Abnormality. Hand-held echocardiography HHE is being explored for use in the intensive care arena as an extension of the physical examination for real time and iterative information.

HHE can help assess chamber size ventricular function and presence of fluid collections and thus is useful in determining etiology of shock and measuring volume status. Transthoracic TTE and transesophageal TEE echocardiography are important investigations for many patients in the intensive care unit ICU to diagnose acute cardiac pathologies and assess the haemodynamic status 1. Critical care echocardiography CCE is its own specialty with three competence levels.

Basic advanced and expert. A recent international consensus. To evaluate the diagnostic capability of a hand-carried ultrasound device HCU in critically ill patients when using conventional transthoracic echocardiography TTE as a reference.

Medical-surgical intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. All patients requiring a TTE study were eligible. Each patient underwent an echocardiographic examination using a full-feature.

Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for diagnosing cardiac conditions. Over the past 2 decades technological advancements have resulted in the emergence of miniaturized handheld ultrasound equipment that is compact and battery operated and handheld echocardiography can be readily performed at the point of care with. Key wordsHandheld Echocardiography Critical Care Emergency Training Article TypeInvited Review Word Count1470 References.

1 Everything should be made as simple as. Basic Critical care echocardiography is useful in the evaluation of patients with undifferentiated shock or acute respiratory failure as well CCE offers a wide range of hemodynamic parameters to help the intensivist in adjusting therapy in patients with cardiopulmonary compromise CCE scan in. Training in ultrasound techniques for intensive care medicine physicians should aim at achieving competencies in three main areas.

1 general critical care ultrasound GCCUS 2 basic critical care echocardiography CCE and 3 advanced CCE. A group of 29 experts representing the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine ESICM and 11 other critical care societies worldwide.