Caught in the act: impending paradoxical embolism.
In a 73-year-old woman admitted with pulmonary embolism, a thrombus wedged across a patent foramen ovale was revealed by transesophageal echocardiography. After systemic anticoagulation, cardiac embolectomy and closure of the atrial septal defect were considered. Before surgery, repeat transesophageal echocardiography revealed only a small patent foramen ovale with no residual thrombus. We assumed dissolution of the thrombus as the patient had no sign of systemic or recurrent pulmonary embolism.
Fabricius
Alex M
AM
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Leipzig, Strümpelstrasse 39, D-04289 Leipzig, Germany.
Krüger
Martin
M
Hanke
Michaela
M
Mohr
Friedrich W
FW
D000368:Aged; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy