TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - ULTRASOUND EVALUATION OF THE ABDOMEN A1 - Shaves, Sarah C. A1 - Frankel, Heidi L. A2 - Levitov, Alexander B. A2 - Mayo, Paul H. A2 - Slonim, Anthony D. PY - 2015 T2 - Critical Care Ultrasonography, 2e AB - The intensivist caring for the critically ill patient may often consider abdominal pathology when assessing for the causes of the patient’s ill health. Patient symptoms, vital signs, and laboratory tests together with physical examination may leave the clinician with a broad differential diagnosis. Imaging is a frequent tool used to refine the differential diagnosis. Plain film of the abdomen can show obstructive bowel gas pattern or free air, mass effect from organomegaly or ascites, but gives limited information about solid organs. Computerized tomography (CT) is a better test for retroperitoneum, bowel, or for solid organ injury, but is neither portable nor obtained as quickly as bedside ultrasound. Magnetic resonance imaging generally is a relatively lengthy examination, is contraindicated in patients with pacemakers or some other implantable devices, and is often not readily available. Focused ultrasound, however, is quickly available and can often help to identify the problem or exclude diagnoses and assist with therapy. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/18 UR - accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1125016327 ER -