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A Case of Thrombectomy for Loeffler's Endocarditis
Takanobu Kimura1, Akira Takeuchi1, Takeru Nakamura1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, JPN.
Cureus
|August 12, 2024
Summary
Surgical thrombectomy is a viable treatment for Loeffler's endocarditis, a condition causing heart thrombus. This case report highlights successful surgical removal of a left ventricular thrombus, preventing further complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Loeffler's endocarditis involves eosinophilic infiltration, leading to ventricular thrombus formation and fibrosis.
- Complications include embolism and heart failure; standard treatments are anticoagulation and steroids, with surgical thrombectomy rarely reported.
Observation:
- A 74-year-old man presented with an abnormal electrocardiogram and a large left ventricular apical mass (38 × 29 mm) on echocardiography.
- Blood studies revealed hypereosinophilia, confirming Loeffler's endocarditis. Despite warfarin, the thrombus persisted and was highly mobile.
Findings:
- Surgical thrombectomy via a trans-left ventricular approach was successfully performed to remove the mobile intracardiac thrombus.
- Post-surgery, the patient received steroid therapy and recovered without thrombus recurrence or cardiac dysfunction.
Implications:
- Left ventricular thrombectomy is a potentially beneficial surgical option for managing Loeffler's endocarditis.
- This approach may effectively prevent thrombosis and associated severe cardiac complications.
