Obstructing Intracardiac Thrombi

WITH the advent of total cardiopulmonary bypass and open heart surgery, cardiac lesions heretofore impossible to correct have been successfully treated. In this category are included intracardiac thrombi which by their size or position cause obstruction to the flow of blood through the cardiac chambers. We have recently observed five patients with intracardiac obstructing thrombi. An analysis of these patients and a review of those reported in the literature indicate that there are sufficient clues in many cases to warrant making the diagnosis clinically. Report of Cases Case 1 (Left Ventricular Mass Thrombus).. —A 65-year-old man was admitted to the Veterans Administration Hospital, Philadelphia, with signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure refractory to digitalis and diuretics. There was no history of chest pain, syncope, vertigo, or edema. Physical examination revealed cardiac enlargement to the anterior axillary line in the sixth intercostal space, a left ventricular thrust, a grade 3/6