ABSTRACT
Intra-aortic balloon pumps increase myocardial perfusion and decrease cardiac afterload in patients with cardiogenic shock and in high-risk patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. Appropriate positioning of the pump can be confirmed in chest radiographs. Familiarity with available catheters helps the physician to recognize overadvancement of the balloon in the ascending aorta or the aortic arch vessels. Because the balloon is long, its position is juxtarenal in most patients.
Subject(s)
Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping , Radiography, Thoracic , Female , Humans , Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping/adverse effects , MaleABSTRACT
Chest radiographs of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients typically show ill-defined pulmonary nodules. Direct tracheal involvement has not been previously documented radiologically. Radiographs and CT scans of a 16-year-old boy with aplastic anemia and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis showed increased paratracheal opacity, tracheal narrowing, and pneumomediastinum in combination with pulmonary disease. Bronchial lavage cultures grew Aspergillus fumigatus, and the boy died 24 days later.
