Transthoracic echocardiography for the diagnosis of XXXX in the postoperative care unit.

@entity1 @entity296 @entity63 @entity384 @entity49 @entity299 @entity715 @entity1002
INTRODUCTION: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is a reliable, noninvasive imaging method that is useful in the evaluation of cardiovascular @entity715 . We conducted a retrospective study of all the echocardiograms from @entity1 in the postoperative care unit to assess the role of TTE in @entity715 identification in the left ventricle. METHODS: This retrospective database evaluation included all echocardiograms during a 14-month period. The echocardiographic examination protocol included the subcostal four-chamber view, the apical four-chamber view, the apical two-chamber view and the parasternal view, along the long and short axes in both spontaneously and mechanically ventilated @entity1 . All echocardiograms were obtained within the 48 hours immediately following surgery. RESULTS: In total, 160 postoperative echocardiograms were obtained from 160 @entity1 and resulted in the detection of five cases of @entity715 . Subgroup analysis showed that 21 and 35 of the 160 @entity1 examined had either dilated or @entity296 , respectively. In these @entity1 , preoperative echocardiograms had been obtained recently prior to surgery and were negative for @entity1002 . In three of 35 @entity1 with @entity296 and two of 21 @entity1 with @entity384 , @entity715 was identified in the left ventricle. The thrombi were mobile, uncalcified and pedunculated and were located in the apex of the left ventricle. In addition, no clinical consequences of the left ventricular thrombi were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Low-flow conditions in @entity299 due to @entity63 or @entity384 in conjunction with the @entity49 caused by perioperative prothrombotic factors may lead to thrombotic events in the left ventricle.
