Impending paradoxical embolism: a case report and literature review.
Paradoxical embolism occurs following the passage of embolic material from the venous to the arterial circulation through a right to left shunt--frequently a patent foramen ovale. The diagnosis is usually presumptive when arterial emboli occur in the appropriate clinical setting. We describe a case of impending paradoxical embolism in a patient with massive pulmonary embolism. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a thromboembolus straddling a patent foramen ovale. The patient underwent emergency removal of the intracardiac clot with closure of the patent foramen ovale.
Hargreaves
M
M
Department of Cardiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, U.K.
Maloney
D
D
Gribbin
B
B
Westaby
S
S
D000368:Aged; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis