Role of Point-of-care Ultrasonography in Cardiac Surgical Emergencies Like Left Ventricular Puncture

Abstract

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is the application of emergency ultrasonography at the place of patient care to make immediate patient care decisions. POCUS has an important role to play in emergency medical departments because POCUS can shorten time between the onset of symptoms and definitive treatment. Chest tube drain insertion is a simple procedure and routinely practiced. Left ventricular (LV) puncture due to chest drain is a lethal complication of chest tube placement. Early diagnosis and management is essential to save the patient. This case highlights the role of emergency echocardiography in managing LV puncture due to misplaced chest drain and its advantages over contrast-enhanced computerized tomographic scanning. In this case, POCUS helped in finding quick answers to clinical doubts and helped in the management of emergent conditions.

Keywords

• chest tube insertion
• emergency echocardiography
• left ventricular puncture
• point of care ultrasonography