Physiotherapy theory and practice
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Physiother Theory Pract · Jul 2015
Case ReportsPhysiotherapist-initiated lung ultrasound to improve intensive care management of a deteriorating patient and prevent intubation: a case report.
This case report describes the physiotherapy assessments and interventions provided to a 56-year-old male in an Australian intensive care unit. The non-intubated patient suffered from respiratory deterioration, secretion retention, complete opacification of the left hemithorax on chest X-ray (CXR) and widespread coarse crackles on lung auscultation. The addition of lung ultrasound (LUS) facilitated more accurate diagnosis than what was formed on the basis of CXR and lung auscultation resulting in more effective treatment. ⋯ The addition of LUS to the critical care physiotherapist's assessment skills may provide clinical benefit. The increased diagnostic accuracy of LUS compared with other routine assessments warrants further investigation.