“Saved by the Pacing Catheter”: Gigantic Right Atrial Thromboembolus as a Cause of Pulmonary Embolism

  • Ana Isabel Costa Internal Medicine Department, Central Hospital of Funchal SESARAM, Funchal
  • Joana Jacinto Internal Medicine Department, Central Hospital of Funchal SESARAM, Funchal
  • Tiago Freitas Internal Medicine Department, Central Hospital of Funchal SESARAM, Funchal
  • Pedro Freitas Internal Medicine Department, Central Hospital of Funchal SESARAM, Funchal
  • Maria Luz Brazão Internal Medicine Department, Central Hospital of Funchal SESARAM, Funchal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12890/2015_000176

Keywords

Pulmonary embolism, right heart thromboembolus, deep venous thrombosis, thrombolysis

Abstract

Pulmonary embolism (PE) related to the presence of right heart thromboemboli entails a higher mortality rate than PE alone. Furthermore, right heart thromboemboli are often associated with deep venous thrombosis. The most effective therapy for haemodynamically stable patients remains unknown, although recent data suggest that thrombolytic therapy is associated with a better outcome. We describe the case of an 83-year-old woman, hospitalized with PE consequent to right heart thrombus-in-transit, in whom investigation revealed a concomitant deep venous thrombosis. She required thrombolysis, given the high mortality risk that is traditionally associated with this clinical entity.

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    • Published: 2015-02-23

    Issue: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2015) (view)

    Section: Articles

    How to cite:
    1.
    Costa AI, Jacinto J, Freitas T, Freitas P, Brazão ML. “Saved by the Pacing Catheter”: Gigantic Right Atrial Thromboembolus as a Cause of Pulmonary Embolism. EJCRIM 2015;2 doi:10.12890/2015_000176.

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