Focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) to diagnose pleural effusions causing haemodynamic compromise

Abstract

The clinical assessment of patients with respiratory and circulatory problems can be complex, time consuming and have a high incidence of error. Bedside transthoracic ultrasound (US) is a useful adjunctive test in the evaluation of acutely unstable patients. This case series describes the use of the Focus Assessed Transthoracic Echocardiography (FATE) protocol to diagnose unsuspected pleural collections of fluid and how drainage significantly contributes to the haemodynamic improvement seen in these patients.

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Oveland, N. , Bogale, N. , Waldron, B. , Bech, K. and Sloth, E. (2013) Focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) to diagnose pleural effusions causing haemodynamic compromise. Case Reports in Clinical Medicine, 2, 189-193. doi: 10.4236/crcm.2013.23052.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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