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Ultrasound assessment in a pregnant woman? Not just for the fetus
Telmo Borges Coelho1, Ricardo Manuel Rocha Gomes2, Jorge Teixeira3, José António Mariz3
1 Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Centre Vila Nova de Gaia,Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
2 Internal Medicine Department, Cova da Beira Hospital, Covilhã, Portugal
3 Emergency Department, Hospital of Braga, Braga, Portugal
Correspondence Address:
Telmo Borges Coelho,
Rua Dr. Raul Rego 21 A, 5340-351, Morais- Macedo de Cavaleiros
Portugal
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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Pericarditis is a relatively common diagnosis worldwide; however, there are few data published on the frequency, diagnosis, and management of pericardial diseases in pregnant women. Ultrasonography has established its utmost importance and is worldwide recognized in pregnancy and fetal evaluation. Moreover, point-of-care ultrasonography of pregnant women, guided by clinical examination and history, can play an equally fundamental role. We present a case of a 37-year-old pregnant woman who presented at the emergency department with pleuritic chest pain, fever, and cough. Bedside point-of-care ultrasonography confirmed pericarditis revealing an organized pericardial effusion, leading to patient hospitalization and initiation of therapy. The importance and acknowledgment of portable and hand-held ultrasonography devices are growing since it enables physicians not only to make a fast and accurate diagnosis but also to access evolution in inpatient and outpatient settings.
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