POCUS Reveals Right Ventricular Dilatation in Acute Pulmonary Embolism
A 65-year-old man presented with severe shortness of breath, tachycardia and hypoxaemia requiring supplemental oxygen. Bedside cardiac POCUS demonstrated marked right ventricular dilatation in the parasternal short-axis view, raising immediate concern for acute right-heart strain and pulmonary embolism. An urgent CT pulmonary angiogram subsequently confirmed pulmonary embolism. The diagnosis changed the direction of management, and […]
POCUS Detects an IVC Mass Extending into the Right Atrium
An 80-year-old patient with known renal cell carcinoma underwent bedside cardiac POCUS. The examination demonstrated a large echogenic mass within the inferior vena cava extending into the right atrium—highly concerning for venous tumour thrombus. Renal cell carcinoma has a recognised tendency to extend through the renal vein into the IVC and, in advanced cases, as […]
Severe Mitral Regurgitation Detected at the Bedside Following Pacemaker Lead Endocarditis
Clinical Presentation A 78-year-old gentleman presented to the Acute Medical Unit with progressively worsening shortness of breath over several days. His recent medical history was significant for pacemaker lead infective endocarditis, for which the infected pacing system had been removed and he had completed treatment. Given his recent cardiac infection, there was concern that his symptoms […]