[Abdominal roetgen diagnosis in intensive care patients]

Following the discussion on special clinical issues with respect to patients in surgical and internal intensive care wards, technology and special methods used in conventional thorax and abdominal X-rays are elaborated on. The wide range of information obtained through large spectrum abdominal X-rays taken in the ventrodorsal direction with the patient lying on the left side is stressed. Small quantities of free air are visualized better in this position than in the upright one. The importance of additional X-rays of thorax and epigatrium in a seated position is accented. Subject of discussion is also the indication for visualizing by contrast medium and the selection of a contrast medium with due consideration of clinical criteria. The urgent need of an X-ray diagnosis in such a group of patients requires high standards in terms of techniques and methods used for examination--something that lies within the realm of the radiologist. Close cooperation with the attending team of physicians is a must if optimum interpretation of the X-rays is to be guaranteed.