Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease (Nov 2015)

Thrombus straddling a patent foramen ovale

  • Costantina Prota,
  • Rodolfo Citro,
  • Angelo Silverio,
  • Roberto Ascoli,
  • Corrado Naddeo,
  • Giovanni Vitale,
  • Federico Piscione

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2013.76
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 80, no. 3

Abstract

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We present a case of a 67-year-old male with pulmonary embolism. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed the presence of a mobile thrombus straddling the patent foramen ovale (PFO) and prolapsing into both atria. Treatment with heparin was started. Five days after admission, repeat TEE revealed a reduction in thrombus dimensions, so anticoagulation therapy was continued. Eleven days after admission, TEE showed complete disappearance of the thrombus.

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