Acute intrathoracic intestinal strangulation diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography

Abstract

Transthoracic echocardiography plays a central role in diagnosing a variety of cardiac and pericardial disorders. However its use in identifying extra-cardiac thoracic pathology is less well recognised. We describe an unusual case of intrathoracic intestinal strangulation detected by transthoracic echocardiography. The recognition of bowel loops within the left hemithorax enabled rapid confirmatory computed tomographic imaging and subsequent life-saving surgery. This case demonstrates the utility of bedside echocardiography in the assessment of intrathoracic pathology and emphasises the need for cardiologists to be familiar with the echocardiographic appearance of these disorders.