Abstract
An 86-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and non-valvular atrial fibrillation developed cardioembolic stroke with symptoms of consciousness disturbance and left hemiparesis. We detected an oscillating thrombus at a proximal site of the internal carotid artery by carotid ultrasonography. The end-diastolic flow velocity of the right internal carotid artery was 0cm/s. To prevent against recurrence of cardioembolic stroke, administration of intravenous heparin was commenced. The oscillating thrombus disappeared at 3 days after the onset; however, the side-to-side ratio of the end-diastolic velocity still remained high, which suggestes occlusion of the distal internal carotid artery. The side-to-side ratio of the end-diastolic velocity decreased at 13 days after the onset, which indicated recanalization of the right internal carotid artery. Observation of the carotid artery and measurements of the flow velocity of the internal carotid artery by carotid ultrasonography are useful for detecting an oscillating thrombus and subsequent recanalization of the internal carotid artery.
