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Murine Echocardiography of Left Atrium, Aorta, and Pulmonary Artery
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Published on: February 20, 2017

IDENTIFICATION OF LARGE LEFT ATRIAL THROMBUS BY CROSS-SECTIONAL AND M-MODE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Ulrich Busch1, Leonard W. Pechacek, Efrain Garcia

  • 1St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital-Clayton Foundation for Research Laboratory and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas.

Cardiovascular Diseases
|March 1, 1978
PubMed

Insights

Echocardiography identified an intraatrial thrombus in a patient with mitral valve disease. Surgical removal confirmed the diagnosis, and follow-up imaging showed no residual thrombus.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Cardiac Surgery

Background:

  • Mitral stenosis is a common valvular heart disease.
  • Intraatrial thrombus formation can complicate mitral valve disease.
  • Echocardiography is crucial for diagnosing cardiac abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of intraatrial thrombus diagnosed using echocardiography in a patient with mitral stenosis.
  • To illustrate the diagnostic capabilities of M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography in identifying left atrial masses.
  • To document the successful surgical management and postoperative imaging findings.

Main Methods:

  • M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography were used for diagnosis.
  • Open mitral commissurotomy was performed for surgical intervention.
  • Postoperative echocardiography was conducted to assess the outcome.

Main Results:

  • M-mode echocardiography revealed dense echoes suggestive of an intraatrial thrombus.
  • Cross-sectional echocardiography confirmed a globular cluster of echoes within the left atrium.
  • A large, partially calcified thrombus was surgically removed.
  • Postoperative echocardiography showed resolution of the intraatrial echoes.

Conclusions:

  • Echocardiography is effective in diagnosing intraatrial thrombus associated with mitral valve disease.
  • Surgical intervention is a viable treatment option for large left atrial thrombi.
  • Postoperative echocardiography confirms successful thrombus removal.

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