6533b7d6fe1ef96bd1265de4
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Separation of left atrium from right pulmonary artery: a new echocardiographic sign of pericardial effusion.
Wolfgang KasperTiberius PopNorbert TreeseTh. Meinertzsubject
medicine.medical_specialtyLeft atriumDuring atrial contractionPulmonary ArteryPericardial effusionPericardial EffusionDiagnosis DifferentialInternal medicineDrug DiscoverymedicineHumansIn patientHeart AtriaGenetics (clinical)business.industryGeneral Medicinemedicine.diseaseRight pulmonary arteryMyocardial Contractionmedicine.anatomical_structureEffusionEchocardiographyTransverse pericardial sinusCardiologyMolecular MedicineRadiologybusinessdescription
We report a new echocardiographic sign of pericardial effusion in patients with pericardial effusion examined by the suprasternal approach. In normal individuals the right pulmonary artery is closely connected with the superior wall of the left atrium. A separation of these structures is only to be noticed during atrial contraction. In 12 of 17 patients with a pericardial effusion observed a separation of the left atrium from the right pulmonary artery ranging from 3 to 20 mm throughout the cardial cycle. We suggest that this echo-free zone represents fluid in the transverse pericardial sinus which is located between the two structures. In five patients with a small pericardial effusion (less than 400 ml) this observation could not be made.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981-06-15 | Klinische Wochenschrift |