Echocardiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of a cardiac cause of respiratory failure. Findings on an echocardiography suggestive of cardiac cause of respiratory failure include dilatation of the left ventricle, focal or global wall motion irregularities, severe mitral regurgitation. If patients show a normal size of their heart and a normal blood pressure then this suggests an etiology of acute respiratory distress. Echocardiography is also useful in patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure as the function of the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery pressure may be monitored. Thoracic ultrasound is a part of critical care ultrasonography and may be helpful in the diagnosis of acute cardiopulmonary respiratory failure. Findings on an ultrasound suggestive of respiratory failure include the presence of pneumothorax, alveolar and interstitial aeration abnormalities, and pleural effusion.

• Echocardiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of a cardiac cause of respiratory failure. Findings on an echocardiography suggestive of cardiac cause of respiratory failure include:
  • Dilatation of the left ventricle
  • Focal or global wall motion irregularities
  • Severe mitral regurgitation
• Thoracic ultrasound may be helpful in the diagnosis of a cardiac cause of respiratory failure. Findings on an ultrasound suggestive of respiratory failure include:
  • Pneumothorax
  • Alveolar and interstitial aeration abnormalities
  • Pleural effusion