Bedside echocardiographic diagnosis of Pericardial effusion in the critically ill patient and prevention of catastrophic hemodynamic compromise

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In recent years, the use of ultrasound in critical care has revolutionized the bedside assessment of ICU patients. Though operator dependent, the advantage of repeatability and being relatively inexpensive makes it imperative for critical care physicians to stay updatedwith thismodality. The purpose of this report is to describe an incidental finding of pericardial effusion in a patent admitted with respiratory distress. Main body A 26 years old female was admitted with shortness of breath and increase in oxygen requirements. She had a background of cerebral palsy, tracheostomized since 2009 after being operated for scoliosis and had a vagal nerve stimulator in situ. On admission, her 1st covid swab was negative. She normally required home ventilation only at night, however 2 days prior to admission, she required 24 hours of ventilator support. A large leak was noted on the ventilator and had a non-cuffed tracheostomy tube in situ, which was later changed to a cuffed one. A quick bedside FICE (Focused Intensive Care Echocardiography) revealed a large circumferential pericardial effusion with fibrin strands. There was no haemodynamic compromise on admission, however the large pericardial effusion could have been an attributing factor to her severe respiratory distress. She progressively started deteriorating hemodynamically, requiring intravenous fluids and vasopressor support. A definitive ECHO done by the cardiologist confirmed the findings of FICE. There was a rapid change in her condition post-pericardiocentesis. As per the institute protocol, a second covid swab was sent for her, which reported positive. Covid-19 RTPCR testing was not validated on pericardial fluid, hence was not undertaken. The culture of pericardial fluid revealed staphylococcus aureus, but there was a high index of suspicion of COVID and bacterial pericarditis was unlikely. Conclusion: Echocardiographic evaluation of Pericardial effusion is of paramount importance for timely and appropriate diagnosis. In view of quick bed side diagnosis with ultrasound, our patient was able to survive this life-threatening condition and treatment was initiated promptly. If left undiagnosed based on clinical presentation, it could have been catastrophic for a completely treatable cause. Brief description of ultrasound video Pericardial effusion appears as an echo-free space between the 2 layers of pericardium. This video shows a 4-chamber echocardiographic view suggestive of a globular pericardial effusion with fibrin strands. An element of hemodynamic compromise was visible on 4-chambered view as well as para-sternal long axis view.