Impending paradoxical embolism: Have we lost the clot?

First demonstrated on echocardiography in 1985, impending paradoxical embolism refers to a thrombus traversing an atrial septal defect, usually a patent foramen ovale (PFO) [1]. Estimates of the prevalence of PFO range from 15% to 35% but impending paradoxical embolism is rare, with fewer than 200 cases reported in the literature [2‐4]. Most cases are associated with pulmonary emboli. Elevated pulmonary and right atrial pressures may push a thrombus through a PFO into the systemic circulation, producing paradoxical systemic embolization. The high risk of cardio‐embolic stroke makes the diagnosis an emergency. Treatment options include surgical embolectomy, thrombolysis or anticoagulation.

Source: The Clinical Respiratory Journal - October 1, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Finn Ghent, Levi Bassin, Michael Keller, Gregory Cranney, David McKenzie, Peter Grant Tags: Other Source Type: research