title: Successful removal of a floating thrombus in ascending aorta.
abstract: Free-floating thrombus in ascending aorta is a rare cause of peripheral embolism with potentially fatal consequences. We report the case of a young patient with syncope and sudden lumbar pain. Computed tomographic scan revealed a large pedunculated floating mass attached to the posterior wall of the ascending aorta, probably responsible of renal embolic infarction; transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis. Surgery was urgently performed. The thrombus was excised, and was not related to atherosclerotic disease of the aortic wall. We conclude that once diagnosis is clear, urgent surgery must be considered to avoid any further embolic complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heredero
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higueras
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Karagounis
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aldamiz-Echevarria
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013575:Syncope / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000379:methods; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome