Ultrasound Rounds: Intraoperative Point-of-Care Ultrasound Identifies Intracardiac Thrombus and Pulmonary Embolism Allowing for Alteration in Surgical Management

Most of the cases demonstrating describing acute findings using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) have been described in emergency medicine and critical care medicine. While the use of POCUS has become more prevalent in anesthesia practice, documentation of acute findings resulting in alteration in management based on real-time ultrasound findings during pediatric anesthesia remains limited. This case highlights the use of POCUS during cardiopulmonary collapse occurring during correction of neuromuscular scoliosis. POCUS excluded the presumed diagnosis of venous air embolism and identified an intracardiac thrombus leading to the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism.