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Echocardiography and Cardiac Rupture: Is Contrast Extravasation an Indication for Surgery?
Author(s) -
Katz Jonathan S.,
Heching Moshe,
Hoffman Darryl M.,
Danilov Tatyana,
Tranbaugh Robert F.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/echo.13033
Subject(s) - medicine , pericardial effusion , extravasation , perforation , myocardial infarction , radiology , cardiology , cardiac surgery , contrast (vision) , microbubbles , ultrasound , pathology , computer science , metallurgy , punching , materials science , artificial intelligence
Contrast echocardiography demonstrating microbubbles in the pericardial space has often been cited as evidence of ventricular rupture requiring emergent surgical intervention. We report a case where no myocardial perforation was found during post–myocardial infarction surgery despite prior echocardiographic evidence of contrast extravasation into the pericardial effusion. Clinical decision making requires balancing imaging evidence with clinical circumstances to determine the optimal timing for surgical intervention.