Bedside ultrasound scan in the intensive care unit of a referral hospital in Kigali, Rwanda: case reports and a review of the literature-Case Series

A bedside ultrasound scan has become an integral part of care in the intensive care unit (ICU). Its advantages include rapid diagnosis and thus management of life-threatening conditions, reduction in the cost of care, and reduced need for transport of patients out of the unit. These advantages have made bedside ultrasound scans one of the best tools in the hands of the critical care physician. In this case series, we present four patients with different clinical states which include from confirmation of central line placement, confirmation of pneumothorax and diagnosis of hemoperitoneum. The management of these patients was positively influenced by using bedside ultrasound scans in the intensive care unit. Bedside ultrasound in the management of critically ill patients is quick, reliable, and has the potential to influence patient outcomes positively. It is cost-effective, and safe to use for all categories of ICU patients. Deployment of this simple but effective tool is a step in the right direction in the quest to improve patient care in the ICU.