Electrical impedance tomography.
OBJECTIVE
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive, radiation-free monitoring tool that allows real-time imaging of ventilation. The purpose of this article is to discuss the fundamentals of EIT and to review the use of EIT in critical care patients.


RESULTS
In addition to its established role in describing the distribution of alveolar ventilation, EIT has been shown to be a useful tool to detect lung collapse and monitor lung recruitment, both regionally and on a global basis. EIT has also been used to diagnose with high sensitivity incident pneumothoraces during mechanical ventilation. Additionally, with injection of hypertonic saline as a contrast agent, it is possible to estimate ventilation/perfusion distributions.


CONCLUSIONS
EIT is cheap, noninvasive and allows continuous monitoring of ventilation. It is gaining acceptance as a valuable monitoring tool for the care of critical patients.
Costa
Eduardo L V
EL
Respiratory Intensive Care Unit, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
Lima
Raul Gonzalez
RG
Amato
Marcelo B P
MB
D017097:Electric Impedance; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*