Role of renal sonography in the intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the role of portable renal sonography in the intensive care unit (ICU).


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of 402 ICU patients who underwent renal sonography. We recorded demographic data, underlying disease, type of ICU, renal function test results, etiology of renal failure, need for dialysis, and outcome for patients with acute renal failure (ARF). The indications for and results of sonography were analyzed.


RESULTS
The most common indication for a renal sonographic examination was ARF (320/402, 79.6%). Hydronephrosis was found in 5 patients with ARF. Chronic renal failure was confirmed by sonography in 40% of the patients with an indeterminate cause of renal failure. In 33% of cases of complicated urinary tract infections, sonography revealed abnormalities. Renal sonography was also useful for follow-up assessment of patients treated with percutaneous nephrostomy and patients with a history of renal tumor, hydronephrosis, adrenal tumor, hematuria of unknown cause, or fever of unknown origin.


CONCLUSIONS
Since renal disease is common in the ICU, renal sonography is a convenient and useful diagnostic tool in this setting.
Huang
Shih-Wen
SW
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Shang, Kaohsiung Hsien 833, Taiwan.
Lee
Chien-Te
CT
Chen
Chi-Hsiu
CH
Chuang
Chung-Hua
CH
Chen
Jin-Bor
JB
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006417:Hematuria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009403:Nephrostomy, Percutaneous; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging