Role of renal sonography in the intensive care unit

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the role of portable renal sonography in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 402 ICU patients who underwent renal sonography. We recorded demographic data, underlying disease, type of ICU, renal function test results, etiology of renal failure, need for dialysis, and outcome for patients with acute renal failure (ARF). The indications for and results of sonography were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common indication for a renal sonographic examination was ARF (320/402, 79.6%). Hydronephrosis was found in 5 patients with ARF. Chronic renal failure was confirmed by sonography in 40% of the patients with an indeterminate cause of renal failure. In 33% of cases of complicated urinary tract infections, sonography revealed abnormalities. Renal sonography was also useful for follow-up assessment of patients treated with percutaneous nephrostomy and patients with a history of renal tumor, hydronephrosis, adrenal tumor, hematuria of unknown cause, or fever of unknown origin. CONCLUSIONS: Since renal disease is common in the ICU, renal sonography is a convenient and useful diagnostic tool in this setting.