Diagnostic Imaging of the Critically Ill Obese Patient

Diagnostic imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of a wide spectrum of conditions that affect critically ill obese patients. However, imaging of these patients presents considerable challenges. Some common problems encountered by radiology personnel regarding this issue include selection of the best imaging modality for a given indication, transportation of the obese patient to the radiology department, accommodation of those patients on the available imaging equipment, and acquisition of diagnostic-quality images with the lowest possible radiation dose. In addition, interventional procedures on obese patients are difficult to perform and may necessitate special equipments and techniques. A thorough knowledge of the various challenges encountered during imaging and caring for critically ill obese patients and the currently available solutions to tackle them permits timely diagnosis and effective patient care.