Lung Ultrasound on Critical Ill Patient with Lung Pathology

Differential diagnosis and treatment of critical ill patients with chest X-ray opacifications may be challenging. This particularly includes patients with respiratory failure due to hemodynamic instability. Opacifications in chest x-ray may be due to hemothorax, pleural effusion, atelectasis or consolidations. Physical examination may not always represent the cause of its opacity and thus not always contribute the right therapeutic approach. In that case, bedside ultrasound may be very helpful. We present two cases with similar x-rays but different diagnosis with the aid of bedside ultrasound. There is documented ultrasound accuracy in distinguishing pleural effusion and consolidations.