The Open Critical Care Medicine Journal

2010, 3 : 26-32
Published online 2010 July 15. DOI: 10.2174/1874828701003010026
Publisher ID: TOCCMJ-3-26

Pleural Ultrasonography

Subani Chandra and Mangala Narasimhan
Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, The Long Island Jewish Medical Centre, The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA.

ABSTRACT

Pleural pathology is frequently found in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Ultrasonography provides prompt, accurate, and safe diagnosis of pleural diseases at the bedside and guides intervention when necessary. Ultrasonography is an indispensable tool for any intensivist. This article reviews the basic concepts of pleural ultrasonography and its clinical applications in the ICU.

Keywords:

Ultrasound, A lines, effusion, pneumothorax, lung sliding, thoracentesis.