Echocardiography in the intensive care unit

Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography is an easily accessible, almost noninvasive procedure that can be performed at the patient’s bedside, and have very low rates of complication. This procedure enables reliable visualization of cardiac, vascular, and mediastinal morphology, as well as assessment of cardiac function. Frequently, a new diagnosis is established and treatment is substantially changed after echocardiographic investigation. In some situations, immediate echocardiography is mandatory for life-saving therapeutic interventions. The data obtained by echocardiography is complementary and often superior to invasive hemodynamic measurements. Echocardiography should therefore become an integral part of diagnostic evaluation of critically ill patients. It requires permanent availability of proper equipment and adequately trained personnel in the intensive care units. Thus, training in transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography should be integrated into the teaching program for intensivists.