Abstract
Right ventricular dysfunction often associated with pulmonary hypertension is one of the important risk factors of increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Many acute and chronic diseases represent possible provoking insults.
Acute pulmonary hypertension associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, hyperhydration or structural heart disease in sepsis or myocardial infarction are the most common causes in the critically ill. Echocardiography as a part of extended ultrasound examination in intensive care enables evaluation of the systolic and diastolic function of the right ventricle, detection of valvulopathies, estimation of pulmonary hypertension or prediction of fluid responsiveness in a non-invasive and repeatable manner.
Its routine implementation into daily practice provides complex haemodynamic monitoring and may ease the decision-making in the management of mechanical ventilation or fluid therapy in intensive care.