Echocardiography
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Case Reports
Cardiac sarcoidosis mimicking left ventricular noncompaction: An approach to acquired apical hypertrabeculation.
A 65-year-old asymptomatic woman, who had been pathologically diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis, was admitted for further evaluation of possible cardiac involvement. Her echocardiography demonstrated the development of apical hypertrabeculation that was not observed 5 years previously. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed late gadolinium enhancement in the same region. ⋯ Therefore, the diagnosis of active cardiac sarcoidosis was established, and subsequent treatment with corticosteroid was initiated. No study regarding acquired left ventricular hypertrabeculation associated with cardiac sarcoidosis has been reported. The integrated multi-imaging modality approach helped in earlier recognition of cardiac sarcoidosis.
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Echocardiography was reported to be a good predictor of weaning failure when using T-piece method, but information about its efficacy in a pressure support setting is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of echocardiography during spontaneous breathing trial with low-level pressure support for predicting weaning failure among medical critically ill patients. ⋯ Inferior vena cava maximum diameter > 17 and E/Ea ratio ≥ 14 independently predict weaning failure in patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function. This finding confirms that preload status of both ventricles plays a major role in weaning failure.
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Case Reports
Pericardial thrombus and cardiac tamponade after pericardiocentesis with intact heart walls.
A young patient affected by a lung neoplasm, presented at emergency department with cardiac tamponade, underwent pericardiocentesis with a prompt restoration of hemodynamic stability. An hour later, the patient presented again signs of tamponade, without evidence of fluids in the drainage that was left in pericardial space. ⋯ An emergency pericardiotomy was performed and a large thrombus was removed from the pericardial space; cardiac walls were intact. Echocardiography played a pivotal role for the identification of a pericardial thrombus as a complication of pericardiocentesis.