Key result
Surgical resection of left atrial ball thrombus prevents fatal acute mitral obstruction, securing survival.
Why the study?
Left atrial ball thrombus is a rare condition with potential for fatal acute mitral obstruction, and clinical outcomes related to surgical intervention are not well characterized.
Case Report (n=2)
Left atrial ball thrombus may cause fatal acute mitral obstruction, and early surgical intervention may be life-saving.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Surgical resection may avert fatal obstruction in left atrial ball thrombus; leaves open confirmation in larger cohorts.
IMAGE(S): Left atrial ball thrombus; echocardiography; CT; histopathology. CASE SUMMARY: Two women with atrial fibrillation and no anticoagulation presented with left atrial ball thrombus. Patient 1 (79 years, severe mitral stenosis) underwent successful surgical resection and survived. Patient 2 (82 years, atrial fibrillation alone) declined surgery; echocardiography captured acute mitral obstruction- the hole-in-one mechanism-and she died 3 days later from cardiogenic shock. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Left atrial ball thrombus may cause fatal acute mitral obstruction and early surgical intervention may alter outcome.
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Bassiri et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Left atrial ball thrombus (n=2). Surgical resection vs. Declined surgery was evaluated on Survival. Surgical resection of left atrial ball thrombus resulted in survival in 1 patient, whereas a second patient who declined surgery died from fatal acute mitral obstruction 3 days later.
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