Imaging of the Critically Ill

Abstract

Recent advances in imaging procedures and a close collaboration between the intensivist and the intensive care oriented radiologist allow to decrease the incidence of missed or delayed diagnosis, to forsee and prevent potentially dangerous complications, to assure a better therapeutic management and to improve survival of the critically ill patients. Sophisticated diagnostic and interventional procedures employing computed tomography, ultrasound, angiography and radionuclides are more and more used in the ICU, although conventional bedside radiology remains the mainstay of imaging in the critically ill.