Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Apr 2023)

Choledochoscope-guided treatment of pulmonary embolism caused by ventricular myxoma

  • Yong Mao,
  • Cuiting Wang,
  • Yalin Wei,
  • Yongnan Li,
  • Xiangyang Wu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-023-02250-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 1
pp. 1 – 4

Abstract

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Abstract A 33-year male patient presented with a 6-month history of cough and shortness of breath upon physical activity. Echocardiography demonstrated right ventricular space-occupying lesions. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest showed multiple emboli in the pulmonary artery and its branches. Right ventricle tumor (myxoma) resection, tricuspid valve replacement, and clearance of the pulmonary artery thrombus were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Minimally invasive forceps and balloon urinary catheters were used to clear the thrombus. Clearance was confirmed by direct visualization using a choledochoscope. The patient recovered well and was discharged. The patient was prescribed oral warfarin 3 mg/day, and the international normalized ratio for prothrombin time was maintained between 2.0 and 3.0. Pre-discharge echocardiogram showed no lesion in the right ventricle or pulmonary arteries. The 6-month follow-up echocardiography indicated that the tricuspid valve was functioning well and showed no thrombus in the pulmonary artery.

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