An English translation of L’Echographie Générale en Réanimation was necessary, after two French versions in 1992 and 2002. Ultrasound has, it is true, gained a more important place in emergency and intensive care evolution alone does not explain this popularity. Technology develops extremely quickly, but we have always suggested – and continue to do so – that before rushing to the most modern ultrasound units, we should already make optimal use of so-called obsolete devices. Since at least 1978, the quality of the images was sufficient to make life-saving diagnoses. One interesting outcome of technological progress is increasing miniaturization, which makes ultrasound easier to exploit in unusual places.
