title: Right atrial thrombus secondary to pacemaker wires.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pacemaker-induced right atrial thrombus is a rare condition that has not been described in the Emergency Medicine literature. This is a potentially fatal condition that is diagnosed with an echocardiogram and treated with surgical removal, thrombolytics, or long-term anticoagulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This case report is designed to increase awareness among emergency physicians of this potentially fatal condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the case of a patient with a massive right atrial thrombus secondary to pacemaker wire who presented to the Emergency Department with syncope, bradycardia, and rapid hemodynamic deterioration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergency physicians should be aware of this life-threatening entity. Emergency bedside cardiac ultrasound or echocardiogram may be of value in its early identification.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh Affiliated Residency in Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Feuchter
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*