Whole body ultrasonography in the critically ill

Over the past two decades it has been increasingly recognized that whole-body ultrasound is an invaluable tool in the critically ill. In addition to offering rapid whole-body assessment, it has the advantage of being a bedside approach that is available at all times and can be repeated at will. Accordingly, it permits the immediate institution of appropriate therapeutic management. Whole-Body Ultrasound in the Critically Ill is the sequel to the author’s previous books on the subject, which were first published in French in 1992 and 2002 and in English in 2004. This new volume reflects the latest state of knowledge by including a variety of improvements, revised definitions, and updated algorithms. Findings in respect of individual organs are clearly presented, and a particular feature is the in-depth coverage of the lungs, traditionally regarded as an area unsuitable for ultrasound. Throughout, the emphasis is on the practical therapeutic impact of the technique. Its value in a variety of settings, including unexplained shock, management of hemodynamic instability, acute respiratory failure (the BLUE protocol), and the critically ill neonate, is carefully explained. Interventional ultrasound and less widely recognized applications, such as mesenteric infarction, pneumoperitoneum, and intracranial hypertension, are also described. Pitfalls of the technique receive due attention. Today, whole-body ultrasound touches upon every area of critical care. This book, from the chief pioneer in the field, shows that the technique enables critical care physicians to detect therapeutically relevant signs easily and quickly. It will serve as an invaluable guide to the practice of a form of visual medicine.