Intensive care unit imaging

Matthew R Bentz; Steven L Primack

doi:10.1016/j.ccm.2015.02.006

Intensive care unit imaging

Clin Chest Med. 2015 Jun;36(2):219-34, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2015.02.006. Epub 2015 Apr 1.

Authors

Matthew R Bentz¹, Steven L Primack²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, L340, Portland, OR 97239, USA. Electronic address: bentzm@ohsu.edu.
² Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Radiology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road, L340, Portland, OR 97239, USA.

PMID: 26024601
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2015.02.006

Abstract

Chest radiography serves a crucial role in imaging of the critically ill. It is essential in ensuring the proper positioning of support and monitoring equipment, and in evaluating for potential complications of this equipment. The radiograph is useful in diagnosing and evaluating the progression of atelectasis, aspiration, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and pleural fluid collections. Computed tomography can be useful when the clinical and radiologic presentations are discrepant, the patient is not responding to therapy, or in further defining the pattern and distribution of a radiographic abnormality.

Keywords: Atelectasis; Chest radiograph; ICU; Imaging; Pulmonary edema.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Critical Illness*
Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
Humans
Intensive Care Units*
Lung Diseases / diagnosis*
Radiography, Thoracic
Tomography, X-Ray Computed