Point of Care Cardiac Ultrasound Applications in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit - A Review

Title:Point of Care Cardiac Ultrasound Applications in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit - A Review

Volume: 8 Issue: 2

Author(s): Robert T. Arntfield and Scott J. Millington

Affiliation:

Keywords: Echocardiography, emergency department, ICU, point of care, ultrasound, Non-cardiologist, HYPOTENSIVE PATIENT, emergency department, TEE, CCPs

Abstract: The use of point of care echocardiography by non-cardiologist in acute care settings such as the emergency department (ED) or the intensive care unit (ICU) is very common. Unlike diagnostic echocardiography, the scope of such point of care exams is often restricted to address the clinical questions raised by the patient’s differential diagnosis or chief complaint in order to inform immediate management decisions. In this article, an overview of the most common applications of this focused echocardiography in the ED and ICU is provided. This includes but is not limited to the evaluation of patients experiencing hypotension, cardiac arrest, cardiac trauma, chest pain and patients after cardiac surgery.

Cite this article as:

T. Arntfield Robert and J. Millington Scott, Point of Care Cardiac Ultrasound Applications in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit - A Review, Current Cardiology Reviews 2012; 8 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157340312801784952