Cardiac tamponade by loculated pericardial hematoma: limitations of M-mode echocardiography.
Three patients developed cardiac tamponade after heart surgery. Pericardial effusion was not identified by M-mode echocardiography. Two patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography which showed compression of the right atrium by a localized mass. At reoperation, atrial compression by a loculated effusion or hematoma was found and successfully relieved. When cardiac tamponade is suggested by the clinical setting, but not supported by M-mode echocardiography, the presence of a loculated effusion should be considered and evaluated by a two-dimensional echocardiographic study.
D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications*