Prompt Diagnosis of an Unusual Cause of Obstructive Shock Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Sean P Wilson; Julian Suszanski; Nikhil Goyal

doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.06.033

Prompt Diagnosis of an Unusual Cause of Obstructive Shock Using Point-of-Care Ultrasound

J Emerg Med. 2015 Nov;49(5):e151-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.06.033. Epub 2015 Aug 18.

Authors

Sean P Wilson¹, Julian Suszanski¹, Nikhil Goyal¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan.

PMID: 26297112
DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.06.033

Abstract

Background: The patient presenting in an undifferentiated shock state can produce a diagnostic challenge for even the most seasoned clinician.

Case report: We present an unusual case of an elderly woman in obstructive shock from a large atrial mass that was promptly diagnosed with point-of-care ultrasound. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Ultrasound is a non-invasive tool that can help facilitate the early diagnosis of a patient in undifferentiated shock.

Keywords: echocardiography; obstructive shock; point-of-care ultrasound; undifferentiated shock.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology*
Aged
Echocardiography
Fatal Outcome
Female
Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
Heart Neoplasms / complications
Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
Heart Neoplasms / secondary
Humans
Point-of-Care Systems
Shock / etiology*