PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive, radiation-free monitoring tool that allows real-time imaging of ventilation. The purpose of this article is to discuss the fundamentals of EIT and to review the use of EIT in critical care patients. RECENT FINDINGS: In addition to its established role in describing the distribution of alveolar ventilation, EIT has been shown to be a useful tool to detect lung collapse and monitor lung recruitment, both regionally and on a global basis. EIT has also been used to diagnose with high sensitivity incident pneumothoraces during mechanical ventilation. Additionally, with injection of hypertonic saline as a contrast agent, it is possible to estimate ventilation/perfusion distributions. SUMMARY: EIT is cheap, noninvasive and allows continuous monitoring of ventilation. It is gaining acceptance as a valuable monitoring tool for the care of critical patients.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a noninvasive, radiation-free monitoring tool that allows real-time imaging of ventilation. The purpose of this article is to discuss the fundamentals of EIT and to review the use of EIT in critical care patients. RECENT FINDINGS: In addition to its established role in describing the distribution of alveolar ventilation, EIT has been shown to be a useful tool to detect lung collapse and monitor lung recruitment, both regionally and on a global basis. EIT has also been used to diagnose with high sensitivity incident pneumothoraces during mechanical ventilation. Additionally, with injection of hypertonicsaline as a contrast agent, it is possible to estimate ventilation/perfusion distributions. SUMMARY: EIT is cheap, noninvasive and allows continuous monitoring of ventilation. It is gaining acceptance as a valuable monitoring tool for the care of critical patients.
Authors: Antonio Pesenti; Guido Musch; Daniel Lichtenstein; Francesco Mojoli; Marcelo B P Amato; Gilda Cinnella; Luciano Gattinoni; Michael Quintel Journal: Intensive Care Med Date: 2016-03-31 Impact factor: 17.440
Authors: Peter A Muller; Jennifer L Mueller; Michelle Mellenthin; Rashmi Murthy; Michael Capps; Brandie D Wagner; Melody Alsaker; Robin Deterding; Scott D Sagel; Jordana Hoppe Journal: Physiol Meas Date: 2018-04-26 Impact factor: 2.833