title: Fatal pulmonary embolization of a right atrial mass during transesophageal echocardiography.
abstract: Transesophageal echocardiography is a semi-invasive diagnostic technique with a very low incidence of significant complications. Only two deaths related to the procedure have been reported in the literature. We present the case of a 46-year-old man with a right atrial mass, presumably a cardiac myxoma. During attempts at esophageal intubation for a transesophageal echocardiography procedure, the mass fragmented and dislodged, causing massive pulmonary embolism and death. We believe that to avoid this potential complication, great care must be taken in the evaluation of patients with a right intracardiac mass by means of transesophageal echocardiography.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cavero
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cristóbal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gallego
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Oteo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artaza
mesh_terms: D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*