Key result
Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography successfully guided the rescue management of a life-threatening pulmonary embolism during right atrial mass excision via pulmonary thrombectomy.
Why the study?
Intraoperative pulmonary embolism is a rare but life-threatening complication during cardiac surgeries involving right atrial masses.
Case Report (n=1)
Intraoperative TEE plays a critical role in rapidly diagnosing and guiding the surgical management of life-threatening pulmonary embolism during right atrial mass excision.
May support TEE readiness if collapse occurs during RA mass excision; leaves open whether this alters outcomes beyond a single case.
Intraoperative pulmonary embolism is a rare but life-threatening complication during cardiac surgeries involving right atrial masses. This case report details the successful management of a 62-year-old woman with a right atrial mass, utilizing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The patient, with a history of diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease, presented with breathlessness. Preoperative echocardiography identified a mobile mass prolapsing through the tricuspid valve. Following anesthesia induction, embolization of the mass caused hemodynamic collapse, confirmed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Immediate surgery was modified to include pulmonary thrombectomy under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, emphasizing transesophageal echocardiography critical role in guiding surgical decisions.
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Guha et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Right atrial mass and intraoperative pulmonary embolism (n=1). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and pulmonary thrombectomy was evaluated on Successful management of intraoperative pulmonary embolism. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography successfully guided the rescue management of a life-threatening pulmonary embolism during right atrial mass excision via pulmonary thrombectomy.