Key result
Large left-sided pleural effusion linked to atypical electrical alternans varying with respiratory movements.
Why the study?
Electrical alternans is classically described in pericardial tamponade, but alternative causes are rarely documented in patients presenting with QRS alternans.
Case Report (n=1)
Large left-sided pleural effusion can cause atypical electrical alternans that varies with respiratory movements, mimicking the classic sign of pericardial tamponade.
Large left pleural effusion may explain respiratory-varying electrical alternans mimicking tamponade; single case leaves broader applicability open.
Electrical alternans i.e., beat to beat of variation of QRS amplitude has been classically described in pericardial tamponade. Rarely, alternative causes are found in patients with QRS alternans. We report a case of atypical electrical alternans in a middle-aged female in the absence of pericardial effusion. A careful analysis of QRS complexes in our case suggested a unique pattern of alternans varying with respiratory movements instead. On evaluation, we found large left sided pleural effusion as the key underlying mechanism of the atypical alternans.
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P et al. (2022) conducted a case report in Atypical electrical alternans (n=1). Left pleural effusion was evaluated on Atypical electrical alternans varying with respiratory movements. A large left-sided pleural effusion was identified as the underlying mechanism for atypical electrical alternans varying with respiratory movements in a middle-aged female.
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