Electrical impedance tomography for diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary function disorders in the intensive care unit — case report and review of literature

 

The aim of this paper is to describe the possibility of using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) as a treatment monitoring tool in the ICU. It was based on case report and literature review. A 19-year-old female was admitted to ICU due to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Despite aggressive treatment there was no improvement. We decided to use EIT in the monitoring of treatment because of difficulties in transporting the patient to the radiology department in order to perform a control CT scan. After identifying the causing factor (Pneumocyctis jiroveci), EIT monitoring was maintained to assess the effectiveness of targeted microbial treatment. In the following days, we observed an improvement of regional ventilation of the upper and middle segments of the left lung that corresponded well with laboratory test results, especially arterial blood gas analysis. The use of Electrical Impedance Tomography enables non-invasive, bedside, continuous assessment of regional lung ventilation. It is possible to use it in both mechanically ventilated and spontaneously breathing patients. It allows efficient and dynamic monitoring of the course of the therapeutic process. Interpretation of the results is relatively easy to learn and does not require specialist knowledge. Moreover, it is possible to use EIT in those cases where other methods are of high risk or contraindicated.

 

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