Échographie pulmonaire en réanimation et aux urgences

Investigation in an emergency of the lung, a vital organ, is clinical, but is routinely completed by radiographies and CT-scans. These methods yield issues and this review highlights the potentials of a bedside method allowing accurate assessment of the respiratory function in the critically ill: lung ultrasound. Using a standardized semiology, ultrasound offers the possibility of diagnosing pleural effusion, pneumothorax, alveolar consolidation and interstitial syndrome with a performance close to that of CT. In addition to the interventional uses, one basic application is envisaged: codified approach to an acute respiratory failure. Apart from an immediate diagnosis, the essential advantage of lung ultrasound is the possibility of gradually decreasing the referral to CT-scan (or, sometimes, radiography in fragile patients - newborns, etc.), each time lung ultrasound has answered the clinical question.