Surgical embolectomy resulted in an excellent clinical outcome for a 29-year-old man with extensive pulmonary and intracardiac thrombus entrapped through a patent foramen ovale.
Case Report (n=1)
Surgical embolectomy can be a safe and effective treatment for extensive pulmonary and intracardiac thrombus extending through a PFO, minimizing the risk of systemic embolization.
We report a case of a 29-year-old man with no significant medical history presenting with pulmonary embolism (PE). The pulmonary thrombus was extensive and connected to the intracardiac thrombus, which further extended through the patent foramen ovale (PFO) over into the systemic side. We decided to pursue surgical embolectomy, resulting in an excellent outcome for our patient. Other approaches, such as systemic anticoagulation and catheter-directed interventions, were considered but not adopted given the risk of systemic embolization. A bedside echocardiogram before catheter-directed intervention timely guided us to pursue the surgical approach. In considering and discussing current evidence-based approaches, we share the clinical reasoning and special considerations in our approach and decision for choosing a surgical treatment pathway for the management of this patient.
Siddiqui et al. (Fri,) conducted a case report in Pulmonary embolism with intracardiac thrombus extending through a patent foramen ovale (n=1). Surgical embolectomy was evaluated on Clinical outcome. Surgical embolectomy resulted in an excellent clinical outcome for a 29-year-old man with extensive pulmonary and intracardiac thrombus entrapped through a patent foramen ovale.