Lung Ultrasound for the Assessment of Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure

Lung ultrasound has become a standard practice in acute care as an adjunct to the physical exam, providing valuable insights to guide clinical decision making at the point of care. Lung ultrasound can rapidly uncover anatomic detail, help resolve undifferentiated respiratory failure, and delineate equivocal findings on standard plain film without the need for transport to access additional diagnostic imaging. In the following review, basic concepts of lung ultrasound are reviewed including its role in detecting and assessing a variety of common problems.