Cardiac point-of-care ultrasound reveals unexpected, life-threatening findings in two children

Abstract

Abstract 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.

Keywords

• Focused cardiac ultrasound
• Point-of-care ultrasound
• Pediatric emergency medicine
• Pericardial effusion
• Tamponade
• Anterior mediastinal mass