Kidney Doppler ultrasonography in critical care nephrology

• Published in: Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation Vol. 39; no. 9; pp. 1416 - 1425
• Main Authors: Corradi, Francesco, Bell, Max, De Rosa, Silvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 30-08-2024
• Subjects: Acute Kidney Injury - diagnostic imaging; Acute Kidney Injury - therapy; Critical Care - methods; Humans; Kidney - diagnostic imaging; Kidney - pathology; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Nephrology - methods; Ultrasonography, Doppler - methods; critical care; acute kidney injury; renal resistive index; ultrasonography; Doppler ultrasound
• ISSN: 0931-0509; 1460-2385; 1460-2385
• DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfae103

ABSTRACT
Color pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound (CPWD-US) emerges as a pivotal tool in intensive care units (ICUs) for diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) swiftly and non-invasively. Its bedside accessibility allows for rapid assessments, making it a primary imaging modality for AKI characterization. Furthermore, CPWD-US serves as a guiding instrument for key diagnostic-interventional procedures such as renal needle biopsy and percutaneous nephrostomy, while also facilitating therapy response monitoring and AKI progression tracking. This review shifts focus towards the integration of renal ultrasound into ICU workflows, offering contemporary insights into its utilization through a diagnostic standard–oriented approach. By presenting a flow chart, this review aims to provide practical guidance on the appropriate use of point-of-care ultrasound in critical care scenarios, enhancing diagnostic precision, patient management and safety, albeit amidst a backdrop of limited evidence regarding long-term outcomes.