Upper abdominal ultrasound in the critically ill

Intraabdominal pathology, either primary or secondary, may frequently be found in critically ill patients. Without early diagnosis and treatment, the patient's condition may deteriorate and even progress to death. In this article, we provide a current review of the literature regarding liver, biliary, pancreatic, and splenic problems in critically ill patients and describe common ultrasound findings, including the appearance of free intraperitoneal air. According to the liver surface, edge, echotexture, and echogenicity, either diffuse liver diseases or focal liver diseases can be detected on ultrasound. By scanning the biliary tree and gallbladder, many right upper quadrant diseases can be diagnosed. The role of ultrasound for acute pancreatic pathology is to identify any lesions and to evaluate the severity of the diseases. Similarly, the spleen can be evaluated for relevant pathology in the critical care setting. ? 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.