Extension of a long thrombus between the right and left atria across a patent foramen ovale detected by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography: A case report

Abstract

　Using transesophageal echocardiography after induction of anesthesia for emergency pulmonary embolectomy, we detected a thrombus (9 cm) extending between the right and left atria across a patent foramen ovale. We initially scheduled only pulmonary embolectomy with a beating heart; however, detection of the thrombus necessitated a change in our surgical plan, and we performed intracardiac thrombectomy under cardioplegic arrest. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged without any serious complications.

　Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is an effective diagnostic tool in patients in whom intracardiac thrombosis might not be detected preoperatively, as observed in our patient.