The latest issue of CASE is now available with intriguing reports, including “The Use of Bedside Transesophageal Echocardiography to Relieve Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.” CASE
Editor-in-Chief Vincent Sorrell, MD, FASE, remarked, “Although well-known in various critical care and intensivist circles, the role of TEE during cardiac resuscitation is less familiar to many adult cardiologists. Bundy et al. used CASE as an educational tool to demonstrate the value of this diagnostic approach. They carefully obtained high quality TEE images of the LV in an apical long axis view during active chest compressions. In this view, they could show the impact of hand position on aortic valve opening and stroke volume. With TEE guidance, these authors were able to demonstrate aortic valve compression and LVOT obstruction when chest compressions are performed over the aortic root. By moving the location of chest compressions, they reveal unobstructed LVOT with consistent aortic valve opening. Although you may not ever use TEE during CPR, these authors provide compelling insights into the successful performance of cardiac resuscitation and the importance of hand positioning that should be known and distributed to all medical providers.”
Also included in the Critical Care Echocardiography category is a report on a relatively rare, post-LVAD complication that signifies the importance of serial echo in managing patients receiving mechanical circulatory support. The remainder of this issue tackles a variety of topics in the Cardiac Tumors and Pseudotumors, Congenital Heart Disease, and Sonographer Spotlight categories. Santa-Ana-Bayona et al. provide remarkable echo images of their findings in a young man with Carney complex and multi-chamber, large, hemodynamically significant myxomas. Moore et al. share a case that is of particular importance to those in anesthesiology and critical care, recognizing the presence of a persistent left SVC in a patient undergoing cannulation for minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Rounding out this issue is a sonographer-led case series from Benser et al., which further highlights the value of recognizing serial changes through echo, particularly when an issue as dynamic and transient as intracardiac thrombi is involved.
Dr. Sorrell’s editorial dives into the topic of serial echocardiography and its value in successful clinical outcomes when well-executed. He discusses the gaps that currently exist in standardizing this practice and offers resources to improve the variability of your own comparative echo reviews.
Be sure to check out the newest Unlock the CASE and Sonographer Sound-Off on the CASE homepage.
SUBMIT your case report to us! Whether it will be your first time submitting a case or your 50th, we are here to make it a great experience. Email us with questions or submit your report today!