[Biatrial recurrence of a left atrial myxoma]. / Recidiva biauricular de un mixoma auricular izquierdo.

A biatrial myxoma was diagnosed by 2D echocardiography in a man who was minimally symptomatic. Five years previously another similar tumour, located in the left atrium, attached to the interatrial septum, was excised. Similar histological features were present in both cases. The rarity of biatrial recurrence of this sort of myxoma is emphasized.

[Echocardiography in the Intensive Care Unit]. / Ecocardiografía en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos.

The echocardiography can provide important and relevant information and the critically ill patient presents a challenge for the echocardiographer: from limitations in image acquisition to interpretation in the context of rapid physiological and intervention changes. The most frequent reason for requesting an echocardiogram in the ICU is probably to assess left ventricular function. In any case, information of direct relevance for clinical management can in relationship to abnormalities of structure and function can be obtained and used to estimate pulmonary arterial and venous pressures. It can help to investigate the consequences of myocardial ischemia, valvular dysfunction and pericardial disease and detect changes characteristic of specific conditions (e.g. sepsis, pulmonary thromboembolism), although this must be interpreted in the context of each individual patient. The echocardiography also can be used to monitor the therapeutic interventions. The applications of echocardiography in the critical care setting are reviewed, with special emphasis on the assessment of cardiac physiology.