Echocardiography for the assessment of unexplained perioperative hypotension

Minor and major perturbations in hemodynamic status are commonplace in the perioperative period. Arguably, of all the noninvasive (and invasive) diagnostic modalities available in the clinician's armamentarium, echocardiography in all its forms-when used and interpreted appropriately, is rapidly able to provide the clinician with the data necessary to formulate therapeutic plans in the critically ill patient. This review aims to provide the non-cardiac trained anesthesiologist and intensivist a brief introduction to the utility of this readily available tool in the perioperative period.