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Surgical treatment of left ventricular thrombi: two-dimensional echocardiographic diagnosis
Insights
Surgical removal of left ventricular thrombi can be successful in cases of congestive cardiomyopathy and myocardial infarction. Echocardiography aids in diagnosing these cardiac thrombi, guiding emergency surgical intervention for conditions like cerebral embolism.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Left ventricular thrombi (LVT) are a serious complication of various cardiac conditions.
- Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent embolic events.
Observation:
- Two cases of successful surgical removal of LVT are presented.
- Case 1: Multiple LVTs in a dilated ventricle secondary to congestive cardiomyopathy, leading to emergency surgery for cerebral embolism.
- Case 2: A pedunculated, calcified LVT, likely a sequela of a 17-year-old myocardial infarction.
Findings:
- Two-dimensional echocardiography effectively visualized LVT characteristics in both cases.
- Surgical intervention successfully removed the thrombi, resolving the acute clinical issues.
Implications:
- This highlights the importance of echocardiography in identifying LVT.
- Surgical management is a viable option for LVT, even in complex cases.
- Early detection and intervention can prevent severe embolic complications.
Abstract:
Two cases of successful surgical removal of left ventricular thrombi are presented. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed in the first case multiple masses of thrombi in the dilated ventricle consistent with congestive cardiomyopathy and emergency surgery was performed for cerebral embolism. In the second case the thrombus was pedunculated and calcified, a probable sequel of a 17-year old myocardial infarction. The pertinent literature of echocardiographic and surgical aspects of left ventricular thrombi is reviewed.