Key result
POCUS detects unexpected pericardial effusions in 2 pediatric patients, drastically changing clinical management.
Why the study?
The diagnosis of pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade in pediatric patients is challenging due to its relative rarity and can be elusive without bedside imaging.
Case Report (n=2)
Cardiac POCUS can be a life-saving bedside tool for rapidly diagnosing elusive conditions like pericardial effusion and tamponade in children.
May aid rapid pediatric pericardial effusion detection; leaves open need for prospective validation before practice change.
BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade can at times be elusive in pediatric patients since it is relatively uncommon. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can readily be performed at the bedside to assess for the presence of a pericardial effusion, tamponade, and can occasionally yield unexpected results. CASE PRESENTATION: Two cases where POCUS unexpectedly identified pericardial effusions, with one patient who also had an anterior mediastinal mass. CONCLUSIONS: Though underutilized, cardiac POCUS in children can be immediately life-saving and drastically change the clinical management at the patient's bedside.
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Doniger et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Pericardial effusion (n=2). Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was evaluated on Identification of pericardial effusions. Point-of-care ultrasound unexpectedly identified pericardial effusions in two pediatric patients, including one with an anterior mediastinal mass, drastically changing clinical management.
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