Use of echocardiography and modalities of patient monitoring of trauma patients.
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.
Kohli-Seth
Roopa
R
Division of Surgical Critical Care Medicine, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. Roopa.Kohli-Seth@mountsinai.org
Neuman
Tzvi
T
Sinha
Rakesh
R
Bassily-Marcus
Adel
A
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*