Subcostal TAPSE: a retrospective analysis of a novel right ventricle function assessment method from the subcostal position in patients with sepsis.

Background: Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) is frequently used as an objective measure of right-ventricular dysfunction. Abnormal TAPSE values are associated with poor prognosis in a number of disease states; however, the measure is not always easy to obtain in the critically ill. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and accuracy of using a subcostal view and TAPSE measurement as a measure of right-ventricular dysfunction.

Bedside lung ultrasound, mobile radiography and physical examination: a comparative analysis of diagnostic tools in the critically ill.

Objective: To compare lung ultrasonography (LUS), chest xray (CXR) and physical examination (Ex) for the detection of pathological abnormalities in the lungs of critically ill patients.

Design, Setting And Participants: A prospective cohort study of 145 patients in the intensive care unit of a tertiary teaching hospital who were undergoing echocardiography for a clinical indication.

Main Outcome Measures: Each patient was independently assessed by Ex, CXR and LUS on the same day.