Utilizing ultrasound during a cardiac resuscitation can be difficult to implement and interpret. In this video we will review a case that was difficult to interpret due to the pathological findings.

Remember the binary questions when interpreting any cardiac ultrasound:

1 Is there cardiac motion?

2 Is the global function normal?
If the global function is not normal is it:
2a Hyperdynamic?
2b Depressed?
2c Severely depressed?

3 Is there fluid surrounding the heart (Pericardial effusion)?
3a Is there a pericardial effusion is there diastolic collapse of the RA or RV free wall?

4 Do any the chambers of the heart appear NOT to be of normal size?

5 Is the IVC collapsed?
5a If not is there respiratory variation with greater than 50% collapse?

6 Anything else?

In this video we will see sonographic views showing cardiac standstill (systole) with a clotted hemopericardium.