الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of the work
Introduction to lung ultrasonographyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Introduction: In the intensive care units, physicians are limited to a choice between bedside radiography, which has suboptimal quality, and referral of the critically ill patient to CT which has many drawbacks. Transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) is an elegant solution to circumvent this dilemma. While minor limitations of lung ultrasound exist, they are far outweighed by the advantages. TUS is considered a reliable, inexpensive, safe, and reproducible diagnostic method for the work-up of patients with diseases of pleural effusion, pneumothorax, pneumonia, interstitial syndrome, atelectasis, pulmonary embolism and diaphragmatic abnormalities. Under realtime ultrasound guidance, the success rate of transthoracic needle aspiration significantly increases, whereas the risk of complications is greatly reduced. It is our hope that over time, increasing use of TUS will reduce the use of CT and bedside radiography. It is believed that by using this tool, the intensivist may more confidently diagnose cases of acute dyspnea and make emergency therapeutic decisions based on reproducible data.
Aim of the work: The aim of this essay is to review the diagnostic and therapeutic value of transthoracic ultrasound in critical respiratory diseases.
Conclusion: TUS provides a transparent approach to the critically ill, guiding management and care after taking into consideration its limitations. With ultrasound, answering clinical questions for which only sophisticated approaches were previously indicated is surprisingly easy. Lung ultrasound is actually the stethoscope of today.