Free-floating ball thrombus in the left atrium after mitral valve replacement: successful surgical management.
A free-floating ball thrombus in the left atrium is a rare clinical problem with potentially catastrophic consequences. Thus, early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are mandatory. Free ball-valve thrombus within the left atrium developed in a patient who had undergone mitral valve replacement with a Starr-Edwards prosthesis seven years previously. The diagnosis was accurately made by two-dimensional echocardiography and was followed by successful removal of a thrombus. A review of the literature is presented.
D004452:Echocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*