[Mechanism of electric alternance in pericardial effusion. Study with ultrasonics].
Two cases are presented, one with chronic renal failure and the other with a hepatic cyst perforated in the pericardium, with a tension pericardic leakage accompanied with by electrocardiographic alternance. After correct treatment, pericardiocentesis and surgery, respectively, the electrocardiogram lost its electric alternance. The echocardiogram evaluates the importance of the pericardic liquid volume which causes, because of the particular cardiac anatomy, an alternating movement of the heart within the pericardic sac. This factor would be decisive in the origen of the electric phenomenon, a fact corroborated when the electric alternance disappears after pericardiocentesis or surgery.
D000293:Adolescent; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
El mecanismo de la alternancia eléctrica en el derrame pericárdico: estudio con ultrasonido