title: Echocardiographically detected mass "in transit" in early amniotic fluid embolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amniotic fluid embolism is a catastrophic illness related to the passage of fetal material into the pulmonary circulation causing cardiovascular collapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 29-year-old female sustained cardiopulmonary arrest during delivery presumably due to amniotic fluid embolism. A right atrial mass "in transit" was detected by echocardiography. It had an appearance and pattern of motion that was suggestive of a gelatinous consistency and is likely to have been an amniotic fluid embolus. There was also evidence of acute right ventricular overload.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that echocardiography be considered early on such conditions to gain more insight into the pathogenesis of this complication.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut - Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236 Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Abdo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Husseini
authors.forename: Gilbert Abou
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gharzuddine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D004619:Embolism, Amniotic Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy