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Rapid and precise diagnosis of critically ill patients is imperative. Use of bedside ultrasound in the intensive care unit (ICU) could increase diagnostic accuracy and, in turn, improve meaningful patient outcomes. The “ICU-sound” protocol is a head-to-toe ultrasound evaluation conducted at ICU admission. Researchers prospectively tested the effect of this protocol among 125 consecutive patients admitted to a general ICU in Italy.
Each patient underwent a structured ultrasound examination of the venous system (neck, upper and lower extremities), thorax, heart, abdomen, and optic nerve to rule out elevated intracranial pressure (only comatose or deeply sedated patients) within 12 hours of admission by an intensivist skilled in ultrasound. The…