title: Use of echocardiography and modalities of patient monitoring of trauma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Trauma patients require evaluation of the anatomic structure as well as the hemodynamic profile of the heart to improve effectiveness of resuscitation. They are prone to hemodynamic instability and must be monitored with various modalities to detect deterioration early. Newer, less invasive ultrasound technologies are replacing familiar 'gold standard' modalities of the past. This article reviews the indications, roles, imaging approaches, and limitations of modern echocardiography. A brief review of other ICU monitoring modalities is also presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Echocardiography has emerged as a first-line diagnostic tool for assessment of trauma patients, especially those with hemodynamic compromise. It yields crucial information about structural damage as well as the hemodynamic profile and can be performed through either the transesophageal or transthoracic route. Quick and systematic use of echocardiography for diagnosis and management of critically injured patients may lead to improved outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echocardiography plays an important role in the trauma bay for diagnosis of thoracic injury and at the bedside in the ICU for evaluation of the hemodynamic profile.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. Roopa.Kohli-Seth@mountsinai.org
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kohli-Seth
authors.forename: Tzvi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neuman
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bassily-Marcus
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002404:Catheterization; D003422:Critical Care; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D010092:Oximetry; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*