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Inability to view the heart through the subxiphoid echocardiographic window: A harbinger of disaster

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Summary

Two case reports of critically ill neonates, one with pneumomediastinum, the other with pneumopericardium, illustrate how the inability to view the heart through the subxiphoid echocardiographic window occurs only in pneumopericardium. This echocardiographic nonfinding should alert the echocardiographer and neonatal team of impending pericardial tamponade.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, USAF Medical Center Keesler, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, USA

    N. L. Allgood, J. R. Brownlee & G. A. Green

Authors
  1. N. L. Allgood
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  2. J. R. Brownlee
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  3. G. A. Green
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Allgood, N.L., Brownlee, J.R. & Green, G.A. Inability to view the heart through the subxiphoid echocardiographic window: A harbinger of disaster. Pediatr Cardiol 15, 27–29 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00797002

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00797002

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