Separation of left atrium from right pulmonary artery: a new echocardiographic sign of pericardial effusion

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Klinische Wochenschrift 1981-06, Vol.59 (12), p.713-714
Main Authors: Kasper, W, Meinertz, T, Treese, N, Pop, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diagnosis, Differential
Echocardiography - methods
Heart Atria - physiopathology
Humans
Myocardial Contraction
Pericardial Effusion - diagnosis
Pericardial Effusion - physiopathology
Pulmonary Artery - physiopathology
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Summary: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.
ISSN:0023-2173
1432-1440
DOI:10.1007/BF02593865