title: Chest ultrasonography in the ICU.
abstract: Chest diagnostic imaging is essential when dealing with a critically ill patient. At present, direct visualization of the lung parenchyma is performed with a chest x-ray and computed tomography with the patient in the supine position. The relative ease of bedside ultrasound examination  and the availability of user-friendly, inexpensive, portable equipment have made chest ultrasonography an interesting and alternative method in various situations, because it offers accurate information that is of therapeutic and diagnostic relevance. We describe equipment and examination  technique, normal findings, and chest ultrasonography signs detected in some pathological situations, such as pneumothorax, consolidations, pleural effusions, ARDS, and pulmonary edema.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa di Radiologia, Presidio Ospedaliero di Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gardelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feletti
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mughetti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piraccini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zompatori
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D056888:Patient Positioning; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography