Point-of-care ultrasound in pediatric cardiac masses: A case series

Abstract

The utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is well supported by evidence In the Indian scenario, there are no standard guidelines or special training for POCUS in the pediatric intensive care unit. We present here a case series of nine patients with intracardiac masses in whom POCUS performed by pediatric intensivist helped in the management of critically ill patients. The final diagnosis of these patients included left atrial myxoma, two cases of thrombus, four cases of infective endocarditis (IE) with unusual organisms, and two cases with diagnostic confusion about IE/thrombus/cardiac tumor. In all these patients POCUS helped in deciding the line of management such as choice of antimicrobial therapy, site of the central venous catheter, and timely involvement of cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon. One of the children presented with obstructive shock and bedside ultrasound helped in the diagnosis of a left atrial mass and early surgery with a good outcome.

Keywords

• cardiac masses in pediatric patients
• infective endocarditis
• point of care ultrasound