Threatened paradoxical embolism, massive occlusion of pulmonary artery: risk stratification, treatment policy

Described in the article is a clinical case report regarding a male patient presenting with pulmonary thromboembolism, with a floating thrombus in the common femoral vein, in the right atrium, prolapsing into the right ventricle and propagating through a patent foramen ovale to the left atrium, thus being a threat of paradoxical embolism. The echocardiography findings demonstrated the following: mean pressure in the pulmonary artery amounting to 56 mm Hg, dilatation of the right atrium and right ventricle. The patient was subjected to simultaneous thrombectomy from the common femoral artery, from the right, left atria and pulmonary artery in conditions of cardioplegia, as well as ligation of the superficial femoral artery. The postoperative period proved uneventful. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 15, with pressure in the pulmonary artery amounting to 38 mm Hg. Besides, analysed herein are the contemporary literature data, clinical guidelines, and opinions of experts concerning treatment policy in this complex pathology.