ArticleIndian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine2026
Hepatic Elastography in the Intensive Care Unit: Are We Ready to Use It as a Window into Critical Illness?
Article in Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Author Response: Hepatic Elastography in Critical Illness: Moving from Physiological Signal to Clinical Utility.Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care MedicineArticle
- Hepatic Elastography in Critical Illness: Moving from Physiological Signal to Clinical Utility.Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care MedicineArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The liver is highly susceptible to hemodynamic and inflammatory insults in critical illness, yet conventional biomarkers often detect injury only after it is established. Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) is a noninvasive bedside tool that quantifies liver stiffness and may offer real-time insights into hepatic congestion and perfusion. Aim: This viewpoint evaluates the current evidence, practical applications, and limitations of integrating 2D-SWE into routine intensive care unit (ICU) practice. Main findings: Emerging data suggest that 2D-SWE can detect hepatic congestion secondary to right heart dysfunction and may identify early sepsis-related liver injury before biochemical changes manifest. It also holds potential for monitoring hepatosplanchnic perfusion in patients on vasopressors. However, widespread adoption is hindered by significant physiological confounders in the ICU (e.g., positive pressure ventilation, edema), a lack of randomized outcome trials, and operational challenges. Currently, its most pragmatic role lies in serial, trend-based monitoring as an adjunct to clinical assessment. Conclusion: While 2D-SWE is a promising physiological tool that can enrich our understanding of shock and organ dysfunction, it is not yet ready to dictate management. High-quality, context-specific research-particularly in high-burden settings like India-is required to transition this technology from hypothesis-generating to practice-changing. How to cite this article: Ghatak T, Zafar K. Hepatic Elastography in the Intensive Care Unit: Are We Ready to Use It as a Window into Critical Illness? Indian J Crit Care Med 2026;30(3):194-195.
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