Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography to detect effectiveness of selective pulmonary recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator thrombolysis in pulmonary embolism and patent foramen ovale.
A functionally patent foramen ovale can create a relevant right-to-left shunt during massive pulmonary embolism. This associated feature, although maintaining adequate cardiac output, may explain both the paradoxic embolism and the uneffectiveness of peripherally administered drugs. This case demonstrates the potential of transesophageal echocardiography in monitoring the hemodynamic findings of such patients and, consequently, the effectiveness of thrombolytic treatment.
Colonna
P
P
Institute of Cardiology and Anaesthesiology, University of Bari, Italy.
Memmola
C
C
Conte
M
M
Brienza
N
N
Biasco
M G
MG
Rizzon
P
P
Dambrosio
M
M
D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator