Ultrasound as a tool for fluid status assessment in the trauma and critically ill patient

• Focused cardiac ultrasound has been used for over a decade to guide resuscitation.
• Imaged based resuscitation has been expanded to the trauma patients.
• There are several studies described in the literature.
• Limited Transthoracic Echocardiogram (LTTE) is an easy to learn, repeatable technique that can help in achieving euvolemia.

Resuscitation to euvolemia in trauma as well as in the critically ill patient, continues to be a challenge. Focused cardiac ultrasound has been shown to be a reliable tool to evaluate fluid status and to guide therapy. The present manuscript reviews the evidence supporting the use of this tool and describes the clinical applications for image-based resuscitation using echocardiogram.