Premium
Echocardiographic M‐scan technique in the diagnosis of pericardial effusion
Author(s) -
Abbasi A. S.,
Ellis Nancy,
Flynn John J.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.1870010406
Subject(s) - medicine , pericardial effusion , apex (geometry) , supine position , pericardium , radiology , effusion , ultrasound , pericardial fluid , cardiology , anatomy , surgery
M‐scanning was found useful in eight patients in whom the diagnosis of pericardial effusion was negative or equivocal with conventional echocardiography. With the patient in the semi‐recumbent position, the records were obtained while the ultrasound beam was sector scanned base toward the cardiac apex. With this technique, a separation of the posterior pericardium epicardium by a divergent echo‐free space was noted when pericardial effusion was present. The divergent nature of the echo‐free space was due to accumulation of pericardial fluid toward the cardiac apex. The shift of pericardial fluid toward the cardiac apex was further demonstrated by elevation of the patient supine to the semi‐recumbent position. The latter position enhances the sensitivity of M‐scanning in the detection of pericardial effusion.