title: Point-of-Care Ultrasound Diagnosis of a Catheter-Associated Atrial Thrombus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emergency physicians can utilize point-of-care thoracic ultrasound to aid in the diagnosis of a variety of cardiovascular and respiratory complaints.
  
  
  METHODS
  An emergency physician utilized point-of-care cardiac ultrasound to identify catheter-associated atrial thrombi in a hemodialysis patient presenting with dyspnea. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Based on this case, point-of-care ultrasound can be utilized in patients with central venous catheters, to identify intracardiac thrombi as the cause of dyspnea, thereby facilitating appropriate consultation and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenwood-Ericksen
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Frasure
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: atrial thrombus; cardiac mass; catheter-associated thrombus; echocardiogram; point-of-care ultrasound