The adrenals were studied prospectively with real-time ultrasound in a series of 60 healthy individuals and 13 patients with small adrenal masses sized 8-20 mm in diameter. In only one of the 60 healthy subjects was a normal adrenal gland delineated as a distinct hypoechoic structure. In all other instances only the highly echogenic suprarenal fat could be displayed. Visualization of small tumors was successful in 12 of 13 patients. The suprarenal area and small lesions were best demonstrated by a lateral intercostal approach using longitudinal and transverse scanning planes. The best access was through the 9th/10th intercostal space at the junction with the anterior and middle axillary lines on the right and the posterior axillary line on the left.

Weaning was successful in two thirds of patients who had been on prolonged mechanical ventilation and had then been transferred to weaning facilities staffed by chest physicians. These centres effectively improved the quality of care of patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation by avoiding long-term invasive ventilation and sparing cost-intensive ICU resources. The problems that still exist may be overcome by a network of weaning facilities.

The international classification of three weaning categories (simple weaning, difficult weaning, prolonged weaning) has been modified in the German weaning guidelines: the group of prolonged weaning has been subclassified into weaning without noninvasive ventilation (NIV), weaning with NIV, if necessary with continuing NIV in the form of home mechanical ventilation, and weaning failure.Strategies to prevent prolonged weaning comprise daily interruption of sedation, daily screening of capability of spontaneous breathing by a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) and early implementation of NIV instead of continuing invasive mechanical ventilation especially in hypercapnic patients. The comorbidity left heart failure plays a major role in weaning failure and need for re-intubation-in this case early diagnosis and if necessary modification of heart therapy are important.Specialised weaning-centres offer the option for successful weaning for about 50-60 % of patients declared as unweanable by usual intensive care units. A multimodal therapy concept with respiratory therapists, physiotherapists and speech therapy is necessary to reach this goal. In case of weaning failure a professional discharge management to invasive home mechanical ventilation is important. Competent care by physicians in the out-of-hospital area is restricted by the sectoral division of responsibility by the German health care system. Improvement in this area is urgently needed.

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In a prospective study it was shown that chest ultrasonography is superior to conventional x-ray diagnosis of recumbent patients in diagnosing pleural effusion and lung atelectasis. In 110 supine radiographs we found a sensitivity of 47% and a specificity of 71% for right pleural effusions and a sensitivity of 55% and a specificity of 93% for left pleural effusions in comparison to 110 sonographic examinations. The results of supine radiographs in detection of atelectasis were less efficient: sensitivity for the right side: 7%; sensitivity for the left side: 13.5%. Hence, the knowledge of chest ultrasonographic diagnosis can improve the interpretation of supine radiographs.