Intraoperative detection of pulmonary thromboemboli with epicardial echocardiography.
We report a novel intraoperative use of epicardial echocardiography in detecting and guiding the removal of pulmonary arterial thromboemboli. We describe a patient with a right atrial thrombus that could not be visualized with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Because we suspected acute pulmonary embolization, epicardial echocardiography was used to visualize the right and left pulmonary arteries. Pulmonary thromboemboli were identified, and pulmonary thromboembolectomy was successfully performed.
Zlotnick
A Y
AY
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Lennon
P F
PF
Goldhaber
S Z
SZ
Aranki
S F
SF
D004452:Echocardiography; D017128:Embolectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery