Of 1,400 patients admitted to the ICU, 170 met criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock, and 85 were diagnosed with pneumonia. The sensitivity and specificity of initial chest radiography was 58% (95% CI, 46%- 68%) and 91% (95% CI, 81%-95%), respectively, for the diagnosis of pneumonia. US Abdomen Abdominal/pelvic US is often chosen as the initial imaging modality in patients of child-bearing age in the evaluation of suspected intraabdominal sepsis. Potential diagnoses responsible for sepsis in this setting can be divided into gynecological causes (such as endometritis, salpingitis, oophoritis, tubo-ovarian abscess, pelvic peritonitis) and nongynecological causes (such as acute appendicitis, diverticulitis, ileitis/colitis, epiploic appendagitis, and urological causes), which can be assessed to varying degrees on US [17]. In the setting of Sepsis urosepsis, US is often considered the first imaging modality of choice in part because of its portability and rapid acquisition (which is of obvious benefit for a suspected or confirmed septic patient) [15,16]. Based on recent studies, there is potential value in employment of artificial intelligence techniques to enhance the value of abdominal US in the setting of sepsis, but this discussion is beyond the scope of this topic. Sorenson et al [18] performed a retrospective review of 221 patients with first-time bacteremia suspected to be urosepsis. Of these, 116/221 (52%) of the patients underwent further evaluation with either abdominal US or abdomen/pelvis CT. Major abnormalities were found in 37/115 (32%) of the patients and most commonly included pyonephrosis and renal calculi. Of these, 15/115 (13%) of the patients underwent urological intervention as a result of imaging findings.
Sepsis. Of 1,400 patients admitted to the ICU, 170 met criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock, and 85 were diagnosed with pneumonia. The sensitivity and specificity of initial chest radiography was 58% (95% CI, 46%- 68%) and 91% (95% CI, 81%-95%), respectively, for the diagnosis of pneumonia. US Abdomen Abdominal/pelvic US is often chosen as the initial imaging modality in patients of child-bearing age in the evaluation of suspected intraabdominal sepsis. Potential diagnoses responsible for sepsis in this setting can be divided into gynecological causes (such as endometritis, salpingitis, oophoritis, tubo-ovarian abscess, pelvic peritonitis) and nongynecological causes (such as acute appendicitis, diverticulitis, ileitis/colitis, epiploic appendagitis, and urological causes), which can be assessed to varying degrees on US [17]. In the setting of Sepsis urosepsis, US is often considered the first imaging modality of choice in part because of its portability and rapid acquisition (which is of obvious benefit for a suspected or confirmed septic patient) [15,16]. Based on recent studies, there is potential value in employment of artificial intelligence techniques to enhance the value of abdominal US in the setting of sepsis, but this discussion is beyond the scope of this topic. Sorenson et al [18] performed a retrospective review of 221 patients with first-time bacteremia suspected to be urosepsis. Of these, 116/221 (52%) of the patients underwent further evaluation with either abdominal US or abdomen/pelvis CT. Major abnormalities were found in 37/115 (32%) of the patients and most commonly included pyonephrosis and renal calculi. Of these, 15/115 (13%) of the patients underwent urological intervention as a result of imaging findings.