title: Abdominal ultrasound in the intensive care unit: a 3-year survey on 400 patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany. doris.schacherer@klinik.uni-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schacherer
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klebl
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zierhut
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schoelmerich
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langgartner
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography