title: Role of renal sonography in the intensive care unit.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Shang, Kaohsiung Hsien 833, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chien-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Hsiu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chung-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Jin-Bor
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: 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