[Disseminated arterial occlusions revealing bilateral venous thrombosis with paradoxical embolisms].
Paradoxical embolism is a diagnosis of exclusion. Clinical triad associates deep venous thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism, arterial embolism, and intracardiac communication with right-to-left shunt. The intracardiac communication is generally related to a patent foramen ovale (PFO). We report a 75-year-old patient, who presented with bilateral deep venous thrombosis of the legs, complicated by massive pulmonary embolism and paradoxical embolisms through a PFO. This resulted in cerebral, mesenteric, splenic and bilateral kidney infarctions. A promptly initiated anticoagulant treatment allowed a favourable outcome.
Elsendoorn
A
A
Service de réanimation médicale et médecine interne, CHU de Poitiers, 2, rue de la Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers, France. antoine.elsendoorn@wanadoo.fr
Desport
E
E
Vialle
R
R
Frat
J-P
JP
Bridoux
F
F
Touchard
G
G
D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D019320:Embolism, Paradoxical / Q000175:diagnosis*; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*