Micro-Bubbles in the Left Heart-Juniper Publishers
JUNIPER PUBLISHERS - OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract The information provided by diagnostic imaging technologies is an invaluable tool for managing cardiology patients. However, one must be careful not to make clinical decisions based exclusively on an image produced by diagnostic devices because; occasionally this approach could prove misleading. Micro-bubbles in the left heart in a patient undergone mitral valve replacement (MVR) three years back are uncommon and require further evaluation. The differential diagnosis being paradoxical air embolism through a PFO, left atrial rupture, atrial-bronchial or atrial-esophageal fistula and Cavitations/De-gassing. The Cavitation/De-gassing phenomenon is caused by the local pressure drop that occurs during the closure and/or opening of mechanical valve leaflets. Occasionally, these peculiar features of echo cardiographic images generated by cavitations can simulate a mass or vegetation an...