Lung ultrasound and transthoracic echocardiography in the differentiation between pericardial and left pleural effusion in a cardiac surgery patient.

摘要

Significant morbidity and mortality are associated with acute pulmonary embolus (PE) during the perioperative period.1 Patients with massive PE who are hemodynamically unstable may require surgical embolectomy. As established by Aklog et al,2 patients undergoing embolectomy for severe PE show a survival rate of 89%. Patient survival is related directly to early diagnosis and surgical intervention.2 We report a case in which intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was used to detect an acute PE that occurred during an elective laparoscopic procedure. The transesophageal echocardiographic diagnosis allowed the patient to undergo emergent thrombectomy, which was lifesaving.