Mural thrombus of the aorta

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Mural thrombi of the aorta are an uncommon cause of peripheral arterial emboli.
• Patients presenting with aortic mural thrombi often lack a prior cardiovascular history and are typically middle-aged.
• Peripheral arterial emboli from aortic mural thrombi can manifest as acute or chronic lower limb ischemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence, diagnosis, and management of peripheral arterial emboli secondary to aortic mural thrombi.
• To evaluate the outcomes of surgical and non-surgical interventions for aortic mural thrombi.
• To highlight the significance of aortic mural thrombosis as a cause of limb ischemia and potential mortality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 14 cases of aortic mural thrombi causing peripheral arterial emboli between 1978 and 1986.
• Diagnostic modalities included arteriography and computed tomography (CT) scans.
• Treatment strategies involved surgical intervention for thrombus removal and management of the underlying cause.

Main Results:

• Twenty-six peripheral arterial emboli were identified in 14 patients.
• The majority of mural thrombi were infrarenal (13 cases).
• Surgical treatment resulted in good outcomes (unlimited walking, no recurrent emboli) in 11 out of 14 cases, with three poor outcomes (amputations, death).

Conclusions:

• Mural thrombosis of the aorta is a dangerous condition that can lead to potentially lethal outcomes.
• Prompt surgical treatment of aortic mural thrombi is essential to prevent recurrent emboli and improve limb salvage.
• Early diagnosis and management are critical for favorable patient prognoses.