Transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of a liver laceration accompanied by hemodynamic instability.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a useful adjunct in the evaluation of trauma patients, particularly in the area of aortic injury and cardiac tamponade. Little has been written on the use of this modality in the evaluation of extra-cardiac injury. We present a case of a trauma patient in whom TEE was used to evaluate hemodynamic instability; during the course of the examination a previously undiagnosed liver laceration was identified. We report the diagnosis of a liver laceration in a trauma patient by novel use of the transesophageal echocardiographic imaging modality.
Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614-2598, USA. Jhofmann@mco.edu
James P
JP
Hofmann
Thomas J
TJ
Papadimos
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging