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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
07:31
Image Acquisition using Portable Sonography for Emergency Airway Management
Published on: September 28, 2022
Thoracic CT for the intensivist
1Division of Medical Imaging, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia.
Summary
Computed tomography (CT) of the chest aids in diagnosing acute thoracic issues in critically ill patients. Understanding normal anatomy simplifies interpreting CT scans for better management.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Critically ill patients often present with complex cardiopulmonary disorders.
- Plain radiographs may be insufficient for diagnosing thoracic abnormalities in these patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in computed tomography (CT).
- To present a simplified approach to chest CT for diagnosing acute thoracic abnormalities in critically ill patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of published articles and texts on thoracic disorders and CT diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Thoracic CT is valuable for identifying cardiac, pulmonary, pleural, and mediastinal abnormalities in critically ill patients.
- Familiarity with normal intrathoracic structures and artifacts on CT facilitates diagnosis of acute thoracic disorders by non-radiologists.
Conclusions:
- Chest CT provides comprehensive evaluation of the pulmonary system, pleura, mediastinum, heart, pericardium, and aorta, surpassing plain radiographs.
- Mobile CT technology enables imaging of hemodynamically unstable patients within the intensive care unit.
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