Bedside echocardiography in critically ill patients: a true hemodynamic monitoring tool

Echocardiography is a versatile, accurate and noninvasive tool suited to examination of shocked patients. Since the 1980s, intensive care practitioners have used ultrasound widely for hemodynamic evaluation and for cardiac anatomy visualization. This article will describe transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, their scope, and the classic windows needed to interpret the examination properly. We will also report the main indications of echocardiography and the corresponding parameters. Finally, we will indicate educational programs and define minimum training that enable self-sufficiency.