Continuous monitoring by biplane transesophageal echocardiography of pulmonary and paradoxical embolism.
Paradoxical embolism is considered a relatively uncommon disease. Continuous biplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in a 64-year-old woman who had an acute pulmonary embolism. TEE showed an elongated formation highly mobile within both atria. It was trapped in the interatrial septum, passing through a patent foramen ovale. Systemic embolism of the right arm was noted. The patient died 5 hours after admission, and postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This case demonstrates the potential utility of TEE in the study of patients with suspected paradoxical embolism.
De Castro
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S
Department of Clinical Medicine, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy.
Cartoni
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D
Conti
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Beni
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S
D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*