Aquarium sign in sepsis

Abstract

A 91-year-old man appeared in our lab with fever for a transthoracic echocardiography assessment. Highly unusual echo images were found, with a size and movement resembling 'bubbles in an aquarium' in every cardiac chamber, both left and right. The patient died 8 days later, due to a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. These are highly unusual images that should not be confused with microbubbles from contrast agents or radiofrequency ablation, and were previously reported once in association with atrioesophageal fistula. © The Author 2008.