[Sonographic detection of embolic masses in the ventricular passage]

Using echocardiography, we succeeded in identifying thromboembolic masses in the heart of 5 patients suffering from massive pulmonary or arterial embolism. In another case we found a thrombus in the right ventricular outflow tract. Premonitorial pulmonary embolism preceded in all cases. One thrombus in arterial embolism was found by tm-echocardiography, five thrombi by sector-echocardiography. The examinations were performed after acute worsening of the clinical condition. In four patients, death resulted from the embolism, whereas two survived, one old patient without thrombolytic or operative therapy.