title: When an unidentified foreign object appears in the inferior vena cava: recognizing the presence of TIPS stent on transthoracic echocardiographic imaging.
abstract: We describe the case of 65-year-old female with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and cirrhosis. In the subcostal view on a routine transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE), she is found to have an unidentified round prosthetic appearing object in the inferior vena cava (IVC). Upon further investigation, the object was identified as a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stent, which was seen in cross section in a hepatic vein draining into the IVC. Most echocardiographers are unfamiliar with the appearance of a TIPS on TTE. Being able to recognize this will help avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary further imaging.
authors.affiliation: Advocate Christ Medical Center, Department of Cardiology, Oak Lawn, Illinois University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, Section of Cardiology, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. gnijmehmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nijmeh
authors.forename: Leon J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Frazin
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zelinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D019168:Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*