[Surgical treatment of atrial thrombosis. A transesophageal echocardiogram study].
Transesophageal echocardiogram is the procedure of choice in the evaluation of masses located in the cardiac chambers. In this paper three cases of atrial thrombosis are presented: a) a free floating ball thrombus in the left atrium in a patient with moderate mitral stenosis; b) three thrombotic masses adherent to a central venous catheter; c) three thrombotic masses attached to Chiari s network in a patient operated for an ostium secundum atrial septal defect one year before. In all cases transesophageal echocardiogram has played a key role in the diagnosis. Medical therapy has been inadequate and so surgical removal has been performed. Unsuccessful medical therapy, a new episode of thrombosis, intracardiac permanent catheter infections and high risk of systemic and pulmonary embolism are indications for thrombectomy.
Imazio
M
M
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Divisione Universitaria di Cardiologia, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy.
Oliaro
E
E
Ferrua
S
S
Drago
S
S
Morello
M
M
Mangardi
L
L
D000368:Aged; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*