Point-of-care pleural and lung ultrasound in a newborn suffering from cardiac arrest due to tension pneumothorax after cardiac surgery.
We report the case of a 12-day-old newborn affected by coarctation of the aorta and intraventricular defect who underwent coarctectomy and pulmonary artery banding. On post-operative day 7, the patient suffered from pulseless electric activity due to tension pneumothorax. Point-of-care ultrasound was performed during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an attempt to diagnose pneumothorax. The diagnosis was made without delaying or interrupting chest compressions, and the pneumothorax was promptly treated.
1Department of Paediatric Cardiology,Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit,Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital,IRCCS,Rome,Italy.
Angelo
A
Polito
2Department of Cardiology,Cardiac Intensive Care Unit,A. Gemelli Medical School,Catholic University of the Sacred Heart,Rome,Italy.
Daniele G
DG
Biasucci
1Department of Paediatric Cardiology,Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit,Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital,IRCCS,Rome,Italy.
Paola
P
Cogo
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014463:Ultrasonography
Cardiac arrest; paediatric cardiac surgery; pulseless electric activity; tension pneumothorax; ultrasound