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Coronary sinus dilation, in a cardiac context, refers to an enlargement of the coronary sinus, a large vein collecting deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle. This condition often indicates elevated right-sided heart pressures, such as in pulmonary hypertension or tricuspid regurgitation. Ultrasound, specifically echocardiography, is a crucial non-invasive tool for visualizing and quantifying coronary sinus…

Pulmonary hypertension assessment is a crucial cardiac ultrasound application, utilizing echocardiography to evaluate elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries. This non-invasive medical imaging technique helps diagnose and monitor pulmonary hypertension, a serious condition affecting the heart and lungs. Key parameters assessed include right ventricular size and function, tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and pulmonary artery pressure…

An atrial thrombus is a blood clot that forms within the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. These clots often arise in conditions like atrial fibrillation, where irregular heartbeats lead to stagnant blood flow, increasing the risk of clot formation. Detecting atrial thrombi is crucial in cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) as they pose a significant…

In cardiac ultrasound, spontaneous echo contrast, commonly known as “smoke,” refers to a dynamic, swirling pattern of faint echoes within a cardiac chamber or great vessel. This phenomenon arises from the aggregation of red blood cells in areas of stagnant or low blood flow, leading to increased backscatter of ultrasound waves. Often observed in conditions…

An LV pseudoaneurysm is a contained rupture of the left ventricular wall, typically a serious complication following myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, or trauma. Unlike a true aneurysm, it lacks endocardial and myocardial layers, instead being walled off by thrombus and pericardium. This critical distinction is vital in cardiac ultrasound for accurate diagnosis, as rupture risk…

A true left ventricular (LV) aneurysm is a localized, scarred, and thinned segment of the left ventricular wall that bulges outward during both systole and diastole. Unlike a pseudoaneurysm, a true aneurysm contains all layers of the cardiac wall. It is typically a late complication of a transmural myocardial infarction, where necrotic myocardial tissue is…

Myocarditis findings in cardiac ultrasound often include global or regional wall motion abnormalities, indicating impaired heart muscle function. You may also observe myocardial edema, appearing as increased wall thickness with a ground-glass texture, alongside pericardial effusion. These sonographic markers are crucial for diagnosing myocarditis, an inflammatory heart condition. Early identification through cardiac ultrasound helps guide…

End-stage heart failure, in cardiac ultrasound, reveals profound structural and functional abnormalities. Key findings often include severe ventricular dilation, markedly reduced ejection fraction, significant wall motion abnormalities, and valvular regurgitation. Ultrasound helps assess chamber size, wall thickness, and contractility, guiding management and prognosis. Sonographic indicators of end-stage heart failure also encompass increased filling pressures, evidence…

The Shock Evaluation Protocol in cardiac ultrasound is a rapid, systematic assessment to identify and characterize the cause of circulatory shock. This protocol typically involves focused ultrasound views of the heart, IVC, lungs, and abdomen to quickly detect conditions like severe internal bleeding (hemoperitoneum or hemothorax), pericardial effusion leading to cardiac tamponade, severe left ventricular…