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McConnell's Sign Still Holds Its Value: A Lesson Learned from Two Cases
Tikal Kansara1, Fernando Quesada1, Hansang Park1
1Internal Medicine, New York Medical College - Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York, USA.
Cureus
|January 1, 2020
Summary
Early diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is crucial. Bedside echocardiography can reveal McConnell's sign, aiding rapid PE diagnosis and treatment, especially in atypical cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition with high mortality if untreated.
- Subtle clinical presentations and submassive PE often lead to delayed diagnosis.
- Advanced imaging like CT pulmonary angiography involves risks and costs.
Observation:
- McConnell's sign, a specific echocardiographic finding, can be identified at the bedside.
- Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) offers a rapid, non-invasive method for PE assessment.
- Two cases illustrate the utility of bedside TTE in diagnosing PE.
Findings:
- Bedside TTE demonstrating McConnell's sign facilitated timely PE diagnosis.
- Early diagnosis enabled prompt initiation of treatment, potentially reducing mortality.
- McConnell's sign serves as a valuable clinical indicator for PE.
Implications:
- Bedside TTE is a critical tool for the rapid diagnosis of acute PE.
- This approach can improve patient outcomes by enabling faster treatment.
- It offers an alternative to more invasive or costly imaging modalities.
