Clinical and hemodynamic correlation in patients with pericardial effusion and swinging heart by echocardiography

The clinical and hemodynamic findings in 13 consecutive patients with “winging heart” on M-mode echocardiography were analyzed. In these patients the anterior right ventricular and posterior left ventricular walls and interventricular septum moved almost parallel to each other throughout the cardiac cycle, often with exaggerated excursion. In 10 of 13 patients right heart catheterization revealed the hemodynamic profile of cardiac tamponade, while one additional patient was found to have evidence of cardiac compression at the time of surgery. In the remaining two patients no acute invasive diagnostic procedures were performed. During the same observation period cardiac tamponade was observed in five patients without echocardiographic evidence of a swinging heart, and four of these had large clots in the pericardial space. Thus, the swinging heart pattern appears to be a reliable marker of cardiac tamponade, except in those patients with intrapericardial lesions which mechanically limit cardiac motion.     

Cardiac tamponade masking clinical presentation and hemodynamic effects of papillary muscle rupture after acute myocardial infarction.

A 67-year-old woman sustained an acute lateral-wall myocardial infarction and was treated with thrombolytic therapy. Postinfarction hypotension developed 3 days later. Clinical findings at that time were consistent with cardiac tamponade, and an echocardiographic study revealed a moderate-sized pericardial effusion. She underwent urgent pericardiocentesis with transient improvement in hemodynamics, followed by deterioration associated with the development of acute pulmonary edema. Follow-up transesophageal echocardiographic imaging revealed papillary muscle rupture with severe mitral regurgitation. The patient underwent urgent surgical intervention consisting of coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral valve replacement. The presence of cardiac tamponade in this patient masked the clinical manifestations of papillary muscle rupture through the hemodynamic effect of tamponade physiology on mitral regurgitation.     

Echocardiographic findings in a patient with tamponade due to anterior mediastinal hematoma

A patient with blunt trauma to the sternum had clinical evidence of cardiac tamponade and echocardiographic findings highly suggestive of pericardial effusion. Bloody fluid was obtained by precordial pericardiocentesis. With the clinical diagnosis of pericardial tamponade, operation showed a large anterior mediastinal hematoma. In patients with anterior mediastinal hematoma, echocardiography could be misleading, and if pericardiocentesis is needed it should be done via a subxyphoid approach to help differentiate between these two entities.     

Left ventricular apical diastolic collapse: an unusual echocardiographic marker of postoperative cardiac tamponade.

A 37-year-old woman was evaluated for signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade 11 days after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed a large, compartmentalized pericardial effusion that resulted in left ventricular apical diastolic collapse. Also noted were right ventricular posterior wall diastolic collapse and hemodynamic findings consistent with cardiac tamponade. This case highlights the atypical echocardiographic findings in patients with pericardial effusions after cardiac surgery.     

Cardiac tamponade: characteristic Doppler observations

Abnormal respiratory variation in diastolic filling has been reported in patients with cardiac tamponade. To determine the characteristic diastolic filling abnormalities in this disorder, we recorded left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time and transvalvular and hepatic venous flow velocities by pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography in 28 patients with pericardial effusion (16 with and 12 without cardiac tamponade) and 20 normal control subjects. The phase of respiration was recorded simultaneously with all profiles. In 13 of the 16 patients with cardiac tamponade, Doppler examination was repeated after pericardiocentesis. In patients with cardiac tamponade, respiratory variations in transvalvular flow velocities and isovolumic relaxation time were substantially increased in comparison with values in normal subjects, patients without tamponade, and those who had undergone pericardiocentesis. An exaggerated expiratory decrease in diastolic forward flow and increase in reverse flow in the hepatic vein also were characteristic of patients with cardiac tamponade. Thus, Doppler echocardiography is an additional noninvasive means of detecting hemodynamic compromise in patients with pericardial effusion.     

Uncomplicated heart and lung perforation by a displaced ventricular pacemaker lead: a case report

Lead perforation is a rare complication of pacemaker implantation and associated with the risk of disastrous results like cardiac tamponade or pneumo-hemothorax. We report a patient in whom a ventricular lead perforated the right ventricle and left lung parenchyma without the development of cardiac tamponade, pneumothorax, or hemothorax. No objective evidence for perforation was found on echocardiographic evaluation and thorax computed tomography has made the definite diagnosis. In the literature available to us, it is the first reported case of an uncomplicated right ventricular and lung parenchymal perforation associated with pacemaker implantation.     

Critical care of the liver transplant patient: an update

The unique pathophysiology of patients with end-stage liver disease has important implications for their critical care treatment, particularly in the postoperative state. To gauge hemodynamic parameters and responses, each patient must be carefully evaluated for their place in the clinical spectrum of cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Although the data are limited, the biology of the consequences of liver disease is emphasized by novel treatments of hepatorenal syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and hepatopulmonary syndrome. These issues become more relevant with increased adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation, in which technical considerations may further complicate the general treatment of the postoperative transplant patient.     

Therapeutic role of pericardiocentesis for acute necrotizing eosinophilic myocarditis with cardiac tamponade

We describe a patient with acute necrotizing eosinophilic myocarditis who recovered rapidly after pericardial drainage and without corticosteroid therapy. The 25-year- old man was referred to our hospital with suspected acute myocardial infarction on the basis of severe epigastralgia, abnormal Q waves and ST elevation on electrocardiography, and an increase in cardiac enzymes. Echocardiography disclosed pericardial effusion that compressed the right ventricle, left ventricular dysfunction in conjunction with posterolateral hypokinesis, and a thickened ventricular wall but no mural thrombus. The eosinophil count in the peripheral blood was slightly increased. Coronary angiography showed normal arteries and thus prompted an endomyocardial biopsy. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with a clinical diagnosis of myocarditis associated with cardiac tamponade. Emergency pericardiocentesis relieved symptoms immediately. The cells in the pericardial effusion were mainly eosinophils; interleukin 5 and interleukin 13 levels were predominantly elevated, and the effusion was drained for 5 days. The biopsy specimen revealed necrotizing eosinophilic myocarditis. Left ventricular function recovered within a week without corticosteroid therapy. No relapse was observed as of 8 months after diagnosis.     

Pleural effusion leading to right atrial collapse

Rapid accumulation of pericardial fluid can lead to tamponade, resulting in cardiac chambers' collapse, which can lead to hemodynamic and clinical instability, potentially needing emergent pericardiocentesis. Pleural effusion should also be considered as a potential, if rare, cause of cardiac chambers' collapse and possibly cardiac tamponade. This phenomenon has clinical implications because hemodynamically unstable patients with moderate to large pleural effusion may actually need thoracentesis instead of massive volume resuscitation, inotropic agents, or pericardiocentesis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42 : 189–191, 2014     

Echocardiography on HIV patients admitted to the ICU

A prospective echocardiographic study was conducted in 68 patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (C3 stage 78 %, i. v. drug abuse 71 %) in order, firstly to, assess the prevalence of cardiac abnormalities, and, secondly, to make an early therapeutic decision. Only five patients presented clinical evidence of cardiac disease. Echocardiographic abnormalities were identified in 35 patients (51 %): pericardial effusion: 20 cases (29 %), with tamponade in 2 cases that led to an immediate pericardiocentesis. Left ventricular dysfunction: 15 cases (22 %) requiring treatment of cardiac failure. Mitral bioprothesis rupture in 1 patient that led to a surgical procedure. Vegetations of the tricuspid valve in 3 drug addicts (4 %) requiring early antibiotic treatment. Echocardiography proved to be very helpful in detecting hidden cardiac dysfunctions. It is immensely valuable in ICU management of HIV patients, since prompt initiation of appropriate treatment is essential. Received: 15 July 1996 Accepted: 8 October 1997     

Severe right ventricular and tricuspid valve dysfunction after pericardiocentesis

Pericardiocentesis is performed to treat cardiac tamponade or diagnose the cause of pericardial effusion. Cardiogenic shock with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a rare complication after pericardiocentesis. We report a case of an 82-year-old man who suddenly suffered cardiopulmonary arrest 12 h after pericardiocentesis. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed remarkable RV dysfunction and tricuspid valve dysfunction. Tricuspid valve closure was severely impaired, and the tricuspid regurgitation signal showed laminar flow with an early peak. However, after treatment with high-dose inotropic drugs, hemodynamic parameters gradually recovered. A transthoracic echocardiogram performed 24 h later showed improved motion of the RV and the tricuspid valve, resulting in a reduction in tricuspid regurgitation. RV and tricuspid valve dysfunction after pericardiocentesis needs to be recognized as a critical complication. Physicians also need to pay attention to not only the amount of drainage but also underlying RV dysfunction.     

Short-term Minoxidil Use Associated With Pericardial Effusion and Cardiac Tamponade: An Uncommon Presentation

A 48-year-old man presented with complaints of shortness of breath and lower extremity swelling. His medical history was significant for hypertension on minoxidil and recent intracerebellar hemorrhage. Electrocardiography showed sinus tachycardia with left ventricular hypertrophy, and cardiomegaly was noted in the chest x-ray. The patient was hypertensive and tachypneic on admission. An echocardiogram taken immediately showed a large pericardial effusion with evidence of cardiac tamponade. He underwent immediate pericardiocentesis with drainage of 900 mL of pericardial fluid with significant improvement in the symptoms. Analysis of the pericardial fluid proved to be nondiagnostic. Infectious and rheumatologic causes were ruled out. After an extensive battery of tests, not yielding any diagnostic results, the pericardial effusion was attributed to minoxidil therapy. Closer monitoring is needed to prevent potentially fatal complications such as cardiac tamponade as in our patient.     

Pericardiocentesis practice in the United Kingdom

Background: Pericardial effusions frequently present challenging clinical dilemmas. Whether or not to drain an effusion, and if so by what method, are two common decisions facing cardiologists. We performed a survey to evaluate pericardiocentesis practice in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods: A total of 640 questionnaires were sent to all cardiologists in the UK Directory of Cardiology in March 2003. Results: A total of 274 (43%) completed questionnaires were returned, 88% from consultants, equally distributed between tertiary referral centres and district general hospitals. More than 1500 procedures were performed, largely using a paraxiphoid approach (89%). Clinical tamponade was the commonest indication for pericardiocentesis (83%). However, the majority of respondents (69%) considered echocardiographic features alone an indication for pericardiocentesis, even in the absence of clinical tamponade. The commonest perceived indications for drainage were right ventricular diastolic collapse and right atrial collapse (69% and 33% of respondents respectively). For guidance, 82% use echocardiography, either alone or with fluoroscopy or the electrocardiogram (ECG) injury trace. 11% employ fluoroscopy alone or with the ECG injury trace. The remaining 11% stated that they would use the ECG injury trace alone or use no guidance. Using the ECG injury trace alone is said by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines to offer an inadequate safeguard. Reported complications included ventricular puncture (n = 12, 0.8%) and hepatic damage (n = 4, 0.3%). Conclusion: Pericardiocentesis practice varies substantially in the UK. Many cardiologists would perform pericardiocentesis based on echocardiographic features alone. 11% of cardiologists use guidance that is considered inadequate by the ESC guidelines.     

超声心动图观察呼吸对室间隔运动的影响

目的　应用二维超声心动图法观察室间隔运动受呼吸影响情况 ,进一步验证笔者新近提出的关于呼吸影响心功能的假说 ,为该假说的临床应用提供理论依据。方法　用超声心动图观察 2 0例正常人及 11例心包积液伴有或不伴有心包填塞患者的室间隔随呼吸运动的情况。结果　正常人平静呼吸时 ,室间隔运动轻微 ,较深呼吸时明显 ,吸气时室间隔向左室方向移动 ,呼气时恢复。心包填塞患者的室间隔随呼吸左右摆动的幅度明显增大 ,以致左右室短径及相应的左右心功能呈交替、反时相的周期性变化。结论　研究结果进一步证明 ,呼吸性胸压变化是室间隔呼吸性左右摆动的原动力 ,是呼吸性血流动力学指标周期性改变、舒张期左右心室相互作用的力学基础 ,这为笔者提出的假说的临床应用提供了理论依据     

Successful drainage of a traumatic haemopericardium with pericardiocentesis through an intercostal approach

A case of traumatic haemopericardium, sustained after blunt thoracic trauma, is described in a paediatric patient that was successfully drained by needle pericardiocentesis under 2D‐echocardiographic guidance, via an intercostal approach, in the Children's Intensive Care Unit. The patient was haemodynamically unstable with obvious signs of cardiac tamponade. Drainage of the haemopericardium resulted in immediate improvement in haemodynamics. There was no re‐accumulation of the haemopericardium. There were no complications as a result of the pericardiocentesis. No further surgical intervention was required.     

Épanchement péricardique en réanimation — critères cliniques et échographiques diagnostiques de tamponnade — indications de drainage en urgence

Cardiac tamponade, defined by acute circulatory failure secondary to compression of the heart chambers by pericardial effusion, causes obstructive shock requiring intensive care. The incidence of cardiac tamponade in the intensive care unit (ICU) is poorly documented, but pericardial effusion seems to be associated with increased mortality. Pericardial effusion may be caused by infectious, malignant, or autoimmune diseases, and occurs frequently after cardiac surgery. It may be suspected in any patient with shock and signs of right heart failure and polypnea, but echocardiography is crucial in the diagnosis as it visualizes pericardial effusion and detects poor hemodynamic tolerance with diastolic collapse of the right chambers and respiratory variation of right and left Doppler flows. Pericardial drainage, by pericardiocentesis or pericardiotomy, remains the only effective treatment in an emergency situation. Symptomatic treatments are mandatory before drainage to improve venous return despite pericardial obstruction: cautious volume expansion in documented hypovolemia, or norepinephrine, while minimizing the use of mechanical ventilation and sedation as these may increase circulatory failure and lead to cardiac arrest.     

Septal Origin of Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient with Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction After Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot

Right ventricular hypertension and ventricular arrhythmias are risk factors for sudden death after correction of tetralogy of Fallot, but sustained ventricular tachycardia has been reported only in patients without residual hemodynamic abnormalities. A patient with right ventricular hypertension and hypotensive ventricular tachycardia tolerated the arrhythmia better after relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. This case provides insight into the relationship between hemodynamic abnormalities and the clinical consequences of arrhythmias. To our knowledge, it is the first report of ventricular tachycardia originating in scar adjacent to the ventricular septal defect patch after correction of tetralogy of Fallot.     

Biventricular Pacing Using Dual‐Site Right Ventricular Stimulation: Is It Placebo Effect?

Alternate site lead placement in cardiac resynchronization therapy has been used successfully but remains to be validated. A 62-year-old heart failure patient in whom coronary sinus lead placement was not possible underwent implantation of the lead in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and demonstrated clinical improvement as measured by New York Heart Association class and noninvasive parameters. When heart failure recurred, it was determined that his RVOT electrode had been pulled back (Twiddler's syndrome). Repositioning again improved his clinical status and noninvasive hemodynamic measurements. With dual-site right ventricular (RV) pacing there was no echocardiographic measurable intraventricular dyssynchrony. Tissue Doppler imaging correlated with clinical improvement using dual-site RV pacing, providing evidence that this technique may represent a viable alternative in cardiac resynchronization therapy.     

Cardiac tamponade

Cardiac tamponade is a life threatening condition that results from accumulation of intrapericardial fluid or air, leading to impaired cardiac filling and consequent reduction of cardiac output. There are many causes, best categorised as non-traumatic and traumatic. The diagnosis is most commonly made on echocardiographic evidence of effusion together with the clinical findings. Clinical findings, however, are non-specific and often unreliable especially early in the process of cardiac tamponade. A high index of suspicion must therefore be maintained. Definitive treatment consists of pericardiocentesis or surgical drainage, the choice of which will depend upon the urgency of the situation, the aetiology and the available facilities and personnel.