[Posterior echocardiography windows: usefulness in clinical practice].
Posterior cardiac structures cannot always be imaged by means of standard transthoracic echocardiography. Left pleural effusion leading to pulmonary atelectasis and/or to displacement of air-filled pulmonary tissue displacement, allows ultrasound transmission from a patient's back to his heart through a liquid interface. In this study we present the clinical usefulness of echocardiographic posterior windows for the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis and aortic dissection in 2 patients in whom the standard transthoracic approach did not permit diagnostic imaging. We conclude that, in the case of left pleural effusion, the use of posterior windows should be encouraged.
La Marchesina
U
U
Unità Operativa di Ecocardiografia, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via Manzoni, 56 20089 Rozzano, MI. ugo.la_marchesina@humanitas.it
Bragato
R M
RM
Grimaldi
A
A
Melzi
G
G
Armino
F
F
Faletra
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*