title: Right lateral transthoracic approach mimicking standard transesophageal echocardiographic views in a patient with giant left atrium.
abstract: We describe the case of a patient with long-standing severe mitral periprosthetic regurgitation and a giant left atrium. The patient was referred for surgery. On the third postoperative day, after resuture of the dehiscence of the valve sewing ring, the patient complained of dyspnea. Transthoracic ultrasound examination was performed to eliminate pleural effusion. The severe right lateral displacement of an aneurysmatic left atrial cavity contacting with the thoracic wall allowed us to obtain excellent images of the posterior cardiac anatomy by a right lateral thoracic view. The new transthoracic approach made it possible to safely assess the atrial side of the mitral prosthesis, eliminating mitral regurgitation after surgery without transesophageal echocardiographic examination.
authors: Service of Cardiology and Critical Care Unit of Policlinica Miramar, Palma de Mallorca (Baleares), Spain.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Delgado
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Barturen
mesh_terms: D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D014159:Transducers