Inability to view the heart through the subxiphoid echocardiographic window: a harbinger of disaster.
Two case reports of critically ill neonates, one with pneumomediastinum, the other with pneumopericardium, illustrate how the inability to view the heart through the subxiphoid echocardiographic window occurs only in pneumopericardium. This echocardiographic nonfinding should alert the echocardiographer and neonatal team of impending pericardial tamponade.
Allgood
N L
NL
Department of Pediatrics, USAF Medical Center Keesler, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi 39534-5300.
Brownlee
J R
JR
Green
G A
GA
D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging