Intraoperative diagnosis of right atrial thrombi with pulmonary embolism using transthoracic echocardiography / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Right atrial (RA) thrombi are rarer than left atrial thrombi; they are frequently associated with major pulmonary embolism and carry a very high risk of mortality, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. In particular, multiple, mobile right atrial thrombi have a very poor prognosis because of the high incidence of massive pulmonary embolism. Echocardiography is useful in the diagnosis of RA thrombi. The treatment options for RA thrombi are anticoagulation, thrombolysis, and thrombectomy. Here, we report a case of multiple, mobile right atrial thrombi and pulmonary embolism that presented as cardiogenic shock during arthroscopic lavage of a septic knee. It was diagnosed using transthoracic echocardiography and treated successfully with thrombolytics and anticoagulants.