Transesophageal echocardiography-guided aortic thrombectomy in a patient with a mobile thoracic aortic thrombus

Thoracic aortic thrombi are a well-known cause of distal embolic phenomena. There is a paucity of case reports because of the rarity of this condition, and thus clear management guidelines are lacking. The authors present a case of a mobile thoracic aortic thrombus managed by a surgical approach. This report demonstrates how intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) proved to be critical in guiding surgical management. The utility of TEE in the diagnosis and management of aortic thrombi is also discussed. In addition, currently reported management strategies for this complex condition are reviewed.