Two-dimensional echocardiography identified band-like intrapericardial echoes in 10 patients with pericardial effusion, suggesting an effusive-constrictive form of pericardial disease.
Observational (n=10)
Does two-dimensional echocardiography identify specific intrapericardial abnormalities that suggest an effusive-constrictive form of pericardial disease in patients with pericardial effusion?
Band-like intrapericardial echoes on 2D echocardiography in patients with pericardial effusion should raise suspicion for an effusive-constrictive form of pericardial disease.
Ten patients with pericardial fluid who also had striking band-like intrapericardial echoes by two-dimensional ultrasonic sector scanning are reported. Four patients had prior mediastinal radiation and four patients had severe renal disease. One patient had purulent pericarditis and one patient had traumatic hemopericardium. The two-dimensional images permitted recognition of loculation of fluid and led to the suspicion of thickened pericardial membranes. Three postradiation patients had both tamponade and constriction; tamponade alone was present in four additional patients. These data are preliminary but suggest that such findings by two-dimensional echocardiography should alert us to consider an effusive-constrictive form of pericardial disease.
Martin et al. (Sat,) conducted a observational in Pericardial effusion (n=10). Two-dimensional echocardiography was evaluated on Intrapericardial abnormalities (loculation of fluid, thickened pericardial membranes, tamponade, constriction). Two-dimensional echocardiography identified band-like intrapericardial echoes in 10 patients with pericardial effusion, suggesting an effusive-constrictive form of pericardial disease.