[Two operated cases of mitral stenosis (MS) associated with left atrial ball thrombus]

Mitral stenosis associated with left atrial ball thrombus is rare. Removal of left atrial ball thrombus and mitral valve replacement was performed in two patients successfully. The rate of thromboembolism was high in patient who has left atrial ball thrombus. Also, sudden death was reported in these cases due to incarceration of ball thrombus in the mitral orifice (hole-in-one thrombus). We concluded that we should operate the MS associated with left atrial ball thrombus as soon as possible.