title: Caught in the act: impending paradoxical embolism.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Leipzig, Strümpelstrasse 39, D-04289 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Alex M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fabricius
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.forename: Friedrich W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Mohr
mesh_terms: 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