A Wireless, Wearable Carotid Doppler Ultrasound Aids Diagnosis and Monitoring of Pericardial Tamponade: A Case Report

Pericardial tamponade can often be diagnosed through clinical findings and echocardiography; however, the diagnosis can be aided by demonstrating the hemodynamic consequences of the effusion. We describe the use of a wearable carotid Doppler device to help diagnose and monitor pericardial tamponade. A 54-year-old man developed hypotension after an endobronchial biopsy for a lung mass. Echocardiography showed a pericardial effusion with sonographic evidence of tamponade. A wearable carotid Doppler device demonstrated low corrected carotid flow time (CFT) (a surrogate for stroke volume) with significant respiratory variation, supporting the diagnosis of tamponade. The patient underwent pericardiocentesis which revealed purulent pericardial fluid from a mediastinal abscess. After drainage there was increased CFT and reduced respiratory variability in Doppler, surrogates of improved stroke volume. A wearable carotid Doppler device is a noninvasive tool that can help determine the hemodynamic impact of a pericardial effusion, and potentially aid in the diagnosis of pericardial tamponade.