• H Quintard and C Ichai.
• Réanimation médicochirurgicale, faculté de médecine, hôpital Saint-Roch, CHU de Nice, université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, 5, rue Pierre-Dévoluy, 06000 Nice, France. quintard.h@chu-nice.fr
• Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2011 Nov 1;30(11):e69-73.

IntroductionOver the last ten years, ultrasound became standard procedure in the intensive care unit (ICU).Study DesignA national survey to evaluate the use of this technique in French ICUs.MethodsThree hundred and twenty-seven units were contacted from the listing of the Société de réanimation de langue française (SRLF). A survey containing 20 questions addressing the availability, the training for, and the use of ultrasound was sent to the ICUs. Collection of data took place over a period of three months.ResultsWe received 132 completed surveys out of the 327 sent out (40%). Seventy-nine percent of the public community and private centers and 94% of the university centers had an available device in the unit. Forty percent of the units carried out five to ten examinations per week. Seventy-two percent had staff trained in echocardiography. Fifty-five percent used association of monitoring techniques for the haemodynamic assessment of patients with shock. Only 73% carried out formalized reports after examination. In more than 80%, the echocardiograph was also used for the evaluation of other organs.ConclusionUltrasound, and particularly echocardiography, has taken on a more prominent role in the routine assessment of critically ill patients. The availability of equipment and of training has increased over the last ten years, but the demand for training in this area remains strong. This French survey confirms this technique became the "extension of the hand" of the intensivist in ICU.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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