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: Hypotension
A 68 year old man is transferred to the intensive care unit because of hypotension. An ultrasound of the heart and inferior vena cava (IVC) were performed (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Upper panel: subxiphoid view of heart. Lower panel: inferior vena cava.
What is the cause of the hypotension? (Click on the correct answer)
- Cardiogenic shock secondary to cardiomyopathy
- Intracardiac thrombus
- Intravascular volume depletion
- Massive pulmonary embolism
- Pericardial effusion
Reference as: Mosier JM. Ultrasound for critical care physicians: hypotension. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care. 2013;8(1):41-3. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13175/swjpcc176-13 PDF