Caught in the act: serial, real time images of a thrombus traversing from the right to left atrium across a patent foramen ovale

Srihari Thanigaraj; Alan Zajarias; Ali Valika; John Lasala; Julio E Pérez

doi:10.1016/j.euje.2005.05.004

Caught in the act: serial, real time images of a thrombus traversing from the right to left atrium across a patent foramen ovale

Eur J Echocardiogr. 2006 Mar;7(2):179-81. doi: 10.1016/j.euje.2005.05.004. Epub 2005 Jun 29.

Authors

Srihari Thanigaraj¹, Alan Zajarias, Ali Valika, John Lasala, Julio E Pérez

Affiliation

¹ Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8086, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA. harit@im.wustl.edu

PMID: 15996523
DOI: 10.1016/j.euje.2005.05.004

Abstract

Aims: To illustrate the association between a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and paradoxical embolization.

Methods and results: We report a unique case of a paradoxical embolization across a PFO noted during a transesophageal echocardiographic study. Serial images demonstrate the thrombus migrating from the superior vena cava to the left atrium across the PFO.

Conclusions: This case establishes the association between the PFO and paradoxical embolism unequivocally.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aged
Echocardiography, Transesophageal*
Embolism, Paradoxical / diagnostic imaging*
Female
Heart Atria
Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnostic imaging*
Humans