Transesophageal echocardiography in a case of cardiac compression: was it therapeutic?
Cardiac compression is a potentially life-threatening complication of heart surgery. This syndrome often has atypical manifestations, challenging our ability to make a rapid diagnosis and to institute emergent, life-saving treatment. We recently evaluated one such patient who showed cardiac compression caused by an unusual paracardiac mass. The addition of transesophageal echocardiography to the usual transthoracic study may have played more than just a diagnostic role in this case.
Rosenzweig
B P
BP
Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA.
Stern
A
A
Kronzon
I
I
D000368:Aged; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011859:Radiography