Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Jan 1999
Practice Guideline GuidelineEchocardiography in emergency medicine: a policy statement by the American Society of Echocardiography and the American College of Cardiology. The Task Force on Echocardiography in Emergency Medicine of the American Society of Echocardiography and the Echocardiography TPEC Committees of the American College of Cardiology.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Dec 1998
Case ReportsTransesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis of a mycotic ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm as a source of embolism.
Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta may develop after aortic injury from trauma or surgery. We report a case of dehiscence of an aortic graft leading to ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm that was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography. In addition, the transesophageal echocardiogram identified the pseudoaneurysm as the likely cause of a saddle embolus to the iliac bifurcation of the aorta. This case is also unique in that the patient's pseudoaneurysm was infected with fungus.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 1998
Percutaneous echocardiographically guided pericardiocentesis in pediatric patients: evaluation of safety and efficacy.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of echocardiographically (echo) guided pericardiocentesis in pediatric patients. Echo-guided pericardiocenteses performed in pediatric patients (age >/=16 years) at the Mayo Clinic between 1980 and 1997 were identified. Presentation, cause and characteristics of the effusion, details of the pericardiocentesis procedure, and outcome were determined by comprehensive chart review supplemented by telephone interviews when necessary. ⋯ Echo-guided pericardiocentesis is safe and effective in pediatric patients, including children younger than 2 years. The increasing use of pericardial catheterization in conjunction with this technique was associated with significant reduction of recurrence and decreased frequency of surgical interventions for treatment of pericardial effusion. Echo-guided pericardiocentesis with extended catheter drainage should be considered as primary management strategy for clinically significant pericardial effusions in pediatric patients.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 1998
Case ReportsDouble postinfarction cardiac rupture of left ventricular free wall and papillary muscle documented by transthoracic echocardiography.
A 70-year-old man presented with a posteroinferolateral acute myocardial infarction complicated by rupture of the left ventricular inferior wall and partial rupture of the posteromedial papillary muscle. Transthoracic echocardiography documented both of these complications and led to prompt and successful surgical repair.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Oct 1998
Case ReportsTransesophageal echocardiographic identification of left upper pulmonary venous obstruction caused by compression by spontaneous pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta.
Pseudoaneurysm of the aorta usually occurs as a complication of nonpenetrating trauma or deceleration injuries. Spontaneous pseudoaneurysm of the aorta is, however, extremely rare. ⋯ However, it is often overlooked during clinical examination, during routine echocardiography, and even at invasive angiography. This report describes the importance of transesophageal echocardiography in the detection of pulmonary vein compression, which is not suspected during other noninvasive and invasive diagnostic tests, in a patient with spontaneous pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta.