A case of pulmonary edema: The critical role of lung-heart integrated ultrasound examination

Abstract

Cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a common presentation of acute heart failure normally treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), diuretics and nitrates. This therapy is contraindicated in case of cardiac tamponade. We describe a case of pulmonary edema due to cardiac tamponade in which integrated lung-heart ultrasound examination allowed prompt diagnosis and pericardiocentesis before administration of CPAP thus avoiding circulatory collapse.

Keywords

• Multi-organ ultrasound
• point-of-care ultrasound
• acute dyspnea
• heart failure
• cardiac tamponade.