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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997; 45(2): 90-92
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013695
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Trapped Thrombus in a Patent Foramen Ovale

V. Falk, T. Walther, H. Krankenberg1 , F. W. Mohr
  • Department of Cardiac Surgery
  • 1Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Publication History

1996

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

We report two cases of impending paradoxical embolism through a patent foramen ovale. A 73-year-old male had recurrent pulmonary embolism and a large thrombus trapped in a patent foramen ovale. The other patient, a 70-year-old male had septic mediastinitis after prior bypass surgery and a large thrombus lodged in a patent foramen ovale. Cardiac embolectomy and closure of the foramen ovale was performed in both cases because of impending paradoxical embolism. In addition pulmonary thromboendarterectomy was performed to relieve pulmonary hypertension. Therapeutical options are discussed.

Key words

Foramen ovale - Atrial thrombus - Pulmonary thromboembolism