Devices, Foreign Bodies, and Intra Cardiac Masses

Utilization of implantable devices including pacemakers, cardioverter-defibrillators and mechanical circulatory support devices in patients with cardiovascular diseases has vastly expanded in the last two decades. There is need for constant education of cardiologists and critical care specialists in device-related transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography since it plays a central role in patient selection, device surveillance, optimization and troubleshooting. Foreign bodies and intra-cardiac masses are relatively rare so remain challenging entities for critical care specialists and cardiologists alike.