Emergency Echocardiography in the ICU

This is a good video for basic 2D-echo at the bedside for patients in shock. Patients in septic shock and ARDS need frequent limited focused exams , probably every other day as LV (dys)funtion is an extremely dynamic process. Every patient admitted with shock to the ICU should get a baseline echo, which unfortunately does not happen very often.




Attached are a basic outline and summary of elementary echocardiography, the second title is more advanced with quantification of valvular lesions.

Remember that the IVC size and collapse during breathing only represent CVP and is prone to the same limitations as measuring CVP through a CVC. IVC  measurement in intubated patients is not reliable to assess CVP. Distensibility index on the other hand can be used in intubated patients.

Measurement of CVP is not without some merit, as long as the limitations are understood and what exactly is being  measured. Refuting the measurement altogether is not appropriate