Evaluation of COVID-19-Associated Myocarditis Via Point-of-Care Ultrasound in a Pediatric Patient

Poteh, Ndah Akwesi; Singh, Amar Chetram; Starr Seal, Rebecca; Khalil, Paul Adeeb

ABSTRACT: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated myocarditis has been reported from the onset of the pandemic. The presumed etiology is direct damage to the myocardium from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common findings include electrocardiogram abnormalities, elevated cardiac markers, and diminished cardiac function. This can lead to heart failure and cardiogenic shock with resultant poor perfusion. Thus, myocarditis has been recognized as a cause of death in patients with COVID-19. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict the prevalence of myocarditis in these patients given the relative novelty of the pandemic and the lack of available data. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been shown to be a useful modality to investigate lung pathology in patients with COVID-19. Bedside cardiac POCUS can also be used to investigate cardiac pathology. This case describes a pediatric patient with COVID-19 who had evidence of myocarditis on POCUS in the pediatric emergency department.