Anesthesia Key

Introduction Print Section Listen Echocardiography is an effective means of assessing cardiac valve function. It is useful for a rapid qualitative assessment or a more comprehensive assessment for all forms…

Introduction Print Section Listen Traumatic injuries to the chest wall can arise from blunt or penetrating forces. Blunt cardiac injury occurs commonly in thoracic injury approximately 20–76% of the time…

Introduction Print Section Listen Cardiac tamponade is defined as a decompensated form of cardiac compression caused by the accumulation of pericardial effusion and rising intrapericardial pressure.1 Cardiac tamponade may complicate…

Introduction Print Section Listen Left ventricular (LV) dysfunctions (systolic and diastolic) are common in the critically ill patient. They may be due to preexistent disease (e.g., coronary artery disease [CAD])…

Introduction Print Section Listen Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is common in critically ill patients.1–3 It is associated with multiple clinical scenarios frequently encountered by the intensivist, including acute cor pulmonale…

Introduction Print Section Listen Shock (hemodynamic failure) is ubiquitous in the modern intensive care unit (ICU). Venodilation, transudation of fluid from the vascular space into the interstitium and increased insensible…

Introduction Print Section Listen For the patient with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) pressing priorities exist. Symptoms must be ameliorated, lethal arrhythmias identified and treated, arteries opened, and complications identified and…

Introduction Print Section Listen The value of performing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is well established. Although transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a useful diagnostic tool in…

Introduction Print Section Listen Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has major application in the intensive care unit (ICU). Proficiency in TTE allows the intensivist to determine the diagnosis of cardiopulmonary failure, develop…