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Left atrial giant thrombus infected by Escherichia Coli. Case report

Panagiotis Dedeilias1, Antonios Roussakis, Efstratios N Koletsis

  • 1Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, University of Patras, Greece. drpanos@altecnet.gr

Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
|April 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Infected left atrial thrombus is rare, often linked to mitral valve disease. Prompt surgery is crucial for organized clots, but neglected cases can lead to fatal septic emboli.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiac Surgery

Background:

  • Left atrial thrombi are primarily associated with mitral valve disease.
  • Echocardiography is key for differentiating left atrial clots from myxomas.
  • Infected intracardiac thrombi are exceptionally rare, typically found in ventricular locations.

Observation:

  • A 65-year-old female with mitral valve disease and atrial fibrillation presented with recurrent embolic strokes.
  • A giant infected clot in the left atrium was identified.
  • Despite prompt surgical removal and valve replacement, septic emboli to the central nervous system (CNS) proved fatal.

Findings:

  • This case represents the second reported instance of an infected left atrial thrombus.
  • The patient's outcome highlights the severe consequences of neglected and undertreated cardiac conditions.
  • Septic emboli to the CNS were the cause of death.

Implications:

  • Adherence to anticoagulant therapy guidelines for mitral valve disease and atrial fibrillation is critical.
  • Mitral valve substitution should be strongly considered for patients with thromboembolic complications.
  • Surgical intervention is the preferred treatment for organized left atrial thrombi, suspected tumors, or infected masses.
Abstract

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