Ultrasound-enhanced hemodynamic monitoring: echocardiography as a monitoring tool

Inceasing use of ECHO by intensivists has been boo-sted by technological advances, leading to betterimage quality (harmonic imaging, contrast-enhancedendocardial definition, digital acquisition), miniaturiza-tion, portability, and by decrease of equipments’ cost.But also by gradual definition of a specificity in its useas hemodynamic monitoring tool.Aim of this review is to: A) discuss the concept ofhemodynamic monitoring with ECHO, particularly incomparison with other monitoring techniques; B)describe how the assessment of hemodynamic varia-bles is performed with ECHO in the critical patient.