The ICM research agenda on critical care ultrasonography.

PURPOSE

Critical care ultrasonography has utility for the diagnosis and management of critical illness and is in widespread use by frontline intensivists. As there is a need for research to validate and extend its utility, the Editor of Intensive Care Medicine included critical care ultrasonography as a topic in the ICM Research Agenda issue.

METHODS

Eleven international experts in the field of critical care ultrasonography contributed to the writing project. With the intention of developing a research agenda for the field, they reviewed best standards of care, new advances in the field, common beliefs that have been contradicted by recent trials, and unanswered questions related to critical care ultrasonography.

RESULTS

The writing group focused on the provision of training in critical care ultrasonography, technological advances, and some specific clinical applications.

CONCLUSIONS

The writing group identified several fields of interest for research and proposed ten research studies that would address important aspects of critical care ultrasonography.