RT Book, Section A1 Doelken, Peter A1 Mayo, Paul H. A2 Levitov, Alexander B. A2 Mayo, Paul H. A2 Slonim, Anthony D. SR Print(0) ID 1125016625 T1 ULTRASOUND-GUIDED TRANSTHORACIC PROCEDURES T2 Critical Care Ultrasonography, 2e YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-179352-0 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1125016625 RD 2024/11/03 AB Ultrasonographic guidance of thoracic drainage and biopsy procedures is an attractive alternative to computerized tomography (CT) or fluoroscopic guidance. While CT scanning is the standard for overall imaging of the chest in all cases of malignancy and many nonmalignant conditions, ultrasound may be used for procedure guidance. Ultrasound guidance eliminates further radiation exposure and is often less time consuming and more comfortable for the patient. The intensivist–sonographer, who engages in thoracic interventions, must possess the cognitive and manual skills required for pleural and lung sonography; and, in the case of anterior mediastinal biopsy, must be familiar with the ultrasound anatomy of the mediastinal organs. The ability to visualize inserted hardware and to recognize and interpret reverberation artifact associated with hardware is required for all but thoracentesis and some simple biopsy procedures.