Routine Use of RUSH Protocol in the Intensive Care Unit

The RUSH protocol has been used for several years for the rapid evaluation of a patient admitted to the emergency room with shock. Traditionally, its use was especially common in trauma victims, but later its use was extended to patients admitted to the emergency room with shock from any reason. The protocol includes rapid assessment with the guideness of ultrasound of heart contraction, assessment for pleural effusions, assessment of intra-abdominal blood (FAST), diagnosis of venous thrombosis (DVT), and rulling out hydronephrosis. It can also add a pupil size assessment and an evaluation of the gallbladder and bile ducts, as well as the size of the bladder. In intensive care, we use this protocol (or part of it) for the evaluation of a patient who is deteriorating in the ICU for an unknown reason . In some patients we use this protocol as a routine part of the physical examination as part of the daily patient evaluation.

We would like to investigate whether the routine use of the RUSH protocol as part of the daily patient evaluation in the general intensive care unit will lead to any change in the patient's management.