Intramural atrial hematoma complicating transesophageal echocardiography during cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Adequate strategies using either transthoracic (TTE) or transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography in patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an ongoing area of research.

OBJECTIVES: As transthoracic point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) during cardiac arrest resuscitation might result in an increased duration of interruptions in the delivery of chest compressions; the use of TEE has been proposed as an alternative.

METHODS: No technical complications of either TTE nor TEE are so far being reported in the literature.

RESULTS: We report the case of a left intramural atrial hematoma complicating TEE procedure during cardiac arrest. This highlights a unique and to our knowledge, first-in-man, described complicating TEE procedure during CPR.

CONCLUSIONS: Further research on the safety of transesophageal echo during CRP is mandatory and the question about any potential harm of particular interest.