[The role of echocardiography in intensive care]

Echocardiography hasn't played yet a major role in the majority of the noncardiac intensive care units, specially the ones with general multi-care profile. In the past few years an increasing number of patients admitted have an important cardiac component, reason why we emphasize the role of this non invasive diagnostic tool. It's easily performed, may be repeated as many times as necessary, thus providing a quick diagnosis of the disease, its repercussions and medical or surgical interventions.