In the last decade, ultrasound has found its place in the intensive care unit (ICU). Initially, ultrasound was used primarily to increase the safety and efficacy of line insertion, but now many... Show moreIn the last decade, ultrasound has found its place in the intensive care unit (ICU). Initially, ultrasound was used primarily to increase the safety and efficacy of line insertion, but now many intensivists use point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to aid in diagnosis, assess therapy and support therapeutic interventions. In this series, we aim to highlight one specific POCUS technique at a time, which we believe will prove to be useful in your clinical practice. Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) is an important tool for the intensivist and can help in, among other things, diagnosing undifferentiated shock, evaluating the response to therapy and guiding procedures. FoCUS has, until recently, been performed with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). FoCUS-TTE is, however, not always possible and not without problems. In this issue, we aim to describe the merits and pitfalls of focused transoesophageal echocardiography (FoCUS-TEE) in the ICU. Show less
Recent technological advances in echocardiography, with progressive miniaturization of ultrasound machines, have led to the development of handheld ultrasound devices (HUD). These devices, no... Show moreRecent technological advances in echocardiography, with progressive miniaturization of ultrasound machines, have led to the development of handheld ultrasound devices (HUD). These devices, no larger than some mobile phones, can be used to perform partial, focused exams as an extension to the physical examination. The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) acknowledges that the dissemination of appropriate HUD use is inevitable and desirable, because of its potential impact on patient management. However, as a scientific society of cardiac imaging, our role is to provide guidance in order to optimize patient benefit and minimize drawbacks from inappropriate use of this technology. This document provides updated recommendations for the use of HUD, including nomenclature, appropriateness, indications, operators, clinical environments, data management and storage, educational needs, and training of potential users. It also addresses gaps in evidence, controversial issues, and future technological developments. Show less
