title: [Right atrial thrombosis and severe pulmonary embolism].
abstract: Two cases of severe pulmonary embolism associated with right atrial thrombosis are reported. In the first case, fibrinolytic therapy was administered and was thought to be a causative factor in the death of the patient due to massive pulmonary embolism. In the second case, the patient was referred for surgery and two enormous thrombi were extracted. Unfortunately, the outcome was fatal. These two cases were confronted with the results of the literature. They strongly suggest that echocardiography should be a first-line investigation in severe pulmonary embolism. The detection of right atrial thrombosis modifies the clinical strategy and orientates treatment towards surgical referral when the patient's condition allows it.
authors.affiliation: Service de cardiologie B, Hôtel-Dieu, Rennes.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gras
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bédossa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Helloco
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schleich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leguerrier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pasquali
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Almange
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leborgne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin
vernacular_title: Thrombose auriculaire droite et embolie pulmonaire grave.