The Importance of Serial POCUS Exams – Dual Pathologies in Play

Rahul Nair; Jonathan Zuo; Ariel L. Shiloh – Serial point of care ultrasound (POCUS) exams are essential to assess acute pericardial effusions which can rapidly evolve into cardiac tamponade. A typical presentation includes dyspnea, tachycardia, and chest pain. Importantly, serial cardiac exams in such high-risk patients can detect other concurrent pathologies. We present an unusual case of a patient who initially presented with an acute circumferential pericardial effusion and upon serial POCUS exams developed an unexpected Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the setting of cardiac tamponade.

Renal Transplant Artery Stenosis and Kinking: An Unusual Association

R. Haridian Sosa Barrios; V. Burguera Vion; E. Casillas Sagrado; D. Villa Hurtado; S. Jiménez Álvaro; I. Martín Capón; M. Fernández Lucas; Maite E. Rivera Gorrín – Renal artery stenosis of the kidney allograft is an infrequent finding, as is mechanical kinking of the artery. The right renal artery’s greater length in comparison to the vein, limited space within the iliac fossa, and post-operative shifting in graft components all increase the likelihood of kinking. Renal artery stenosis and kinking can either coexist or kinking can result in stenosis. Nevertheless, since both these abnormalities can be corrected with timely treatment, early diagnosis is crucial to prevent permanent to the renal allograft.