Diagnostic and Therapeutic Value of Echocardiography in Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Background: Echocardiography is one of the best diagnostic tools that the intensivist has, because it can be performed at the bedside, avoiding patients’ displacements, and can provide transcendental information on real time for making vital decisions in a noninvasive or semi-invasive form, such as fluid therapy continuity, early vasoactive or inotropic treatment. Echocardiography is not only a routine diagnostic tool in critically ill patient but also has an important role in assessment of patient with unstable cardiovascular diseases, which is known as emergency echocardiography. In this situation there are 3 scopes of emergency echoc-ardiography: diagnostic, symptom or sign- based and resuscitative. We also have to distinguish between emergency echo, which is a comprehensive study, from Focused cardiovascular ultrasound or examination performed with pocket size imaging devices. Aims: The aim of this essay is to discuss the importance of usage of echocardiography in critically ill patients and in emergency settings either as a diagnostic or a therapeutic tool. Conclusion: Echocardiography has become the primary imaging tool for bedside diagnosis and monitoring of patients in acute cardiovascular conditions. It is non-invasive, provides rapid and accurate assessment of cardiac morphology and haemodynamics under stressful situations and is very useful in assisting therapeutic procedures. Keywords: Echocardiography, Diagnostic, Therapeutic, Critically Ill Patients