title: Extrinsic compression of the left atrium by a mediastinal hematoma secondary to inadvertent carotid puncture.
abstract: We present the case of a 63-year-old man who underwent surgical closure of a paravalvular mitral leak. Immediately after surgery, transesophageal echocardiography revealed the appearance of a mediastinal hematoma encroaching on the left atrium and separating the esophageal probe from the posterior left atrial wall. The cause was an inadvertent puncture of the carotid artery, presumably during central venous line insertion prior to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Juan Canalejo Hospital, A Coruña, Spain. aboumos@canalejo.org
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouzas-Mosquera
authors.forename: Victor X
authors.initials: VX
authors.lastname: Mosquera
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.forename: José J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cuenca
authors.forename: Nemesio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alvarez-García
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castro-Beiras
mesh_terms: D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*