title: Intra-atrial thrombus after surgical closure of patent foramen ovale.
abstract: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) represents a potential path for paradoxical embolism and is associated with cryptogenic stroke. It has been suggested that because a PFO represents a repairable lesion (by surgical or transcatheter methods), repair may be the optimal treatment to prevent recurrent stroke. This report describes a patient with recurrent neurologic and peripheral embolic events, which occurred approximately 6 months after the surgical closure of a PFO. The diagnosis of an intra-atrial thrombus with a small residual PFO was made by subsequent transesophageal echocardiography. Thrombus formation at the closure site needs to be considered in a patient with recurrent embolic events after closure of a PFO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Di Tullio
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Homma
mesh_terms: D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology