Chest Radiography in the ICU: Part 2, Evaluation of Cardiovascular Lines and Other Devices

AJR :198, March 2012

Myrna C. B. Godoy Barry S. Leitman Patricia M. de Groot loannis Vlahos David P. Naidich

OBJECTIVE. In this pictorial essay, we discuss and illustrate normal and aberrant position­ing of the cardiovascular support and monitoring devices frequently used in critically ill patients, including central venous catheters, pulmonary artery catheters, left atrial catheters, transvenous pacemakers, automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators, intraaortic counterpulsation bal­loon pump, and ventricular assist devices, as well as their inherent complications.

CONCLUSION. The radiographic evaluation of the support and monitoring devices used in patients in the ICU is important, because the potentially serious complications arising from their introduction and use are often not clinically apparent. Familiarity with normal and abnormal radiographic findings is critical for the detection of these complications.