RUSH to the Diagnosis: Identifying Occult Pathology in Hypotensive Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Case presentation

A 63-year-old female presented to our emergency department with altered mental status and hypotension. She was transferred from the outpatient interventional radiology suite after becoming unresponsive during the removal of an inferior vena cava filter. The patient arrived somnolent with no other history available. Her physical exam was unremarkable. We used point-of-care-ultrasound to perform a rapid ultrasound for shock and hypotension (RUSH) exam. A large pericardial effusion along with signs of cardiac tamponade were identified. The cardiothoracic surgery team was notified, and the patient was taken to the operating room where pericardial blood and a large hematoma were evacuated. She recovered uneventfully and was discharged one week later.

Discussion

SUBMITTER: Berger M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11661262 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature