Figure 1

Transesophageal echocardiography in two patients--one with cardiogenic shock (above) and the other with septic shock (below). In the patient with cardiogenic shock, the left ventricular short-axis view demonstrated global hypokinesia of the left ventricle with major dilatation. Pulsed Doppler at the mitral valve demonstrated a restrictive pattern of the left ventricular inflow with a high E wave velocity and a very low A wave velocity, highly suggestive of a high LV filling pressure. Note also the thrombus in the left ventricle (arrow). In the patient with septic shock, the short-axis view also demonstrated global hypokinesia of the left ventricle, but without a major dilatation. Note also the Doppler profile at the mitral valve, highly suggestive of normal LV filling pressure.