Abdominal ultrasound in the intensive care unit: a 3-year survey on 400 patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzed 400 ultrasound examinations in the ICU to assess the indications of this imaging modality.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis on prospectively collected data on 400 patients in a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
The observational, prospective, clinical study examined 400 bedside abdominal ultrasound examinations performed in the ICU, of which 2% were performed emergently, 56% urgently, and 42% electively.


RESULTS
Environmental conditions impaired the examination slightly in 54%, moderately in 27%, and severely in 4%. Total time per study ranged from 1 to 45 min (median 10). New pathological findings were detected in 31% while 33% confirmed already known pathologies. In 53% there was no therapeutic consequence, in 27% treatment was continued based on the sonographic findings, in 10% an intervention was necessary, in 6% other therapeutic changes followed, and in 4% additional evaluation was deemed necessary. In 80% no other imaging test had to be performed.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound studies are deemed sufficient in a large proportion of patients and help to avoid other, more elaborate imaging studies. However, more focused indications for studies may help to improve cost-effectiveness.
Schacherer
Doris
D
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany. doris.schacherer@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
Klebl
Frank
F
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
Goetz
Daniela
D
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
Buettner
Roland
R
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
Zierhut
Stephanie
S
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
Schoelmerich
Juergen
J
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
Langgartner
Julia
J
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography