Critical Care
The Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care publishes articles directed to those who treat patients in the ICU, CCU and SICU including chest physicians, surgeons, pediatricians, pharmacists/pharmacologists, anesthesiologists, critical care nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Manuscripts may be either basic or clinical original investigations or review articles. Potential authors of review articles are encouraged to contact the editors before submission, however, unsolicited review articles will be considered.
Ultrasound for Critical Care Physicians: Cardiogenic Shock-This Is Not a Drill
Ramakrishna Chaikalam, MD
Shozab Ahmed, MD
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
A 45-year-old woman with no significant past history developed gradual onset of shortness of breath and cough over 1 week. She presented to the emergency department. Her initial chest x-ray showed an enlarged heart and bilateral pulmonary edema. The patient became progressively hypotensive and hypoxic and was intubated. Transthoracic echocardiography is shown below (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Transthoracic echocardiogram in the para-sternal long axis view of the heart.
What intra-cardiac device in the left ventricle is pictured on the image? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the next panel)
- Amplatz closure device of atrial septal defect
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) cannula
- Impella device
- Intra-aortic balloon pump
- Pacemaker lead
Reference as: Chaikalam R, Ahmed S. Ultrasound for critical care physicians: cardiogenic shock-this is not a drill. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2014;9(1):27-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc091-14 PDF