Medicina intensiva
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The specialty of Intensive Care Medicine was established over twenty years ago in Spain as part of the MIR (Resident training) system. The European Union allows for free circulation of its workers and the multilateral recognition of their university degrees as well as their postgraduate training. ⋯ The main objective of this article is to provide a practical guide on how to obtain recognition of the Spanish Certificate of Training (MIR system) in Intensive Care Medicine in the United Kingdom (UK). This review has been done by several Spanish intensivists with vast professional experience in the UK.
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The radiological diagnostic approach of the thorax in the critically ill patient has traditionally been based on the anteroposterior chest X-ray. However, it is generally accepted that it has important limitations regarding its diagnostic accuracy of pleuro-pulmonary disease. The introduction of computed tomography largely solved this problem, but with the dual disadvantage of a larger radiation dose and the unavoidable transportation outside of the ICU. ⋯ However, intrathoracic diseases, existence of fluid in the pleural space and consolidation, or atelectasis in the lung provide a sufficient ultrasound window for the correct evaluation. In this review, we explain the lung and pleural ultrasound technique, define the normal pattern and the artifacts that serve to detect the abnormalities and we explain the criteria for the main diseases (consolidation, pleural effusion, pulmonary edema and pneumothorax). We also discuss the possible utility and limitations of the lung ultrasound in our daily practice, such as diagnosis of acute respiratory failure, detection, quantification and drainage of a pleural effusion, chest trauma, management and complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome and tracheal intubation success or failure.