Thrombus Entrapped in a Patent Foramen Ovale: A Potential Source of Pulmonary and Systemic Embolism

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs in up to 30% of the population, making it the most common site for intra-cardiac shunting. The passage of thrombus across a PFO is typically transient, thus is rarely proven. We describe a rare case of a 79-year-old man with thrombus entrapped across a PFO providing...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Heart, lung & circulation lung & circulation, 2010-01, Vol.19 (1), p.58-60
Main Authors: Kearney, Leighton G., MBBS, Srivastava, Piyush M., MBBS
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Angiography - methods
Anticoagulants - therapeutic use
Atrial Appendage - pathology
Atrial Fibrillation - etiology
Atrial Septum - diagnostic imaging
Atrial Septum - pathology
Cardiovascular
Echocardiography
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Embolism - diagnosis
Embolism - drug therapy
Embolism - etiology
Fatal Outcome
Foramen Ovale, Patent - complications
Foramen Ovale, Patent - diagnosis
Foramen Ovale, Patent - drug therapy
Heart Aneurysm - complications
Heart Aneurysm - diagnostic imaging
Heart Diseases - complications
Heart Diseases - diagnosis
Heart Diseases - drug therapy
Heparin - therapeutic use
Humans
Male
Pulmonary Embolism - diagnosis
Pulmonary Embolism - drug therapy
Pulmonary Embolism - etiology
Respiratory Insufficiency - etiology
Shock, Cardiogenic - etiology
Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Thrombosis - complications
Thrombosis - diagnosis
Thrombosis - drug therapy
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Patent foramen ovale (PFO) occurs in up to 30% of the population, making it the most common site for intra-cardiac shunting. The passage of thrombus across a PFO is typically transient, thus is rarely proven. We describe a rare case of a 79-year-old man with thrombus entrapped across a PFO providing a source for ongoing pulmonary and systemic thromboembolism, despite systemic anticoagulation. There is a paucity of literature to guide primary management of this condition. Management options include surgical thrombectomy with PFO closure, thrombolysis and systemic anticoagulation. The role of percutaneous PFO closure devices for secondary prevention of thromboembolic complications is currently under investigation.
ISSN:1443-9506
1444-2892
DOI:10.1016/j.hlc.2008.12.003