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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Free ball thrombus of the left atrium

P E Sögaard

    European Journal of Cardiology
    |January 1, 1981
    PubMed

    Insights

    A rare case of a mobile ball thrombus in the left atrium caused severe symptoms by obstructing the mitral valve. Autopsy revealed multiple organ infarctions, highlighting the diagnostic challenges of left atrial thrombi.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Pathology

    Background:

    • Ball thrombi in the left atrium are exceptionally rare, particularly with a normal mitral valve orifice.
    • Clinical presentation can be misleading due to the unusual nature of the condition.

    Observation:

    • A 76-year-old patient presented with cyanosis, dyspnea, and shock due to intermittent mitral valve obstruction by a left atrial ball thrombus.
    • The patient also experienced abdominal pain, and autopsy revealed recent hepatic infarctions and a left renal artery thrombus.

    Findings:

    • Autopsy confirmed a large thrombus within a dilated left atrium, causing intermittent obstruction of the mitral orifice.
    • Evidence of systemic embolism included recent infarctions in the liver and a thrombus in the left renal artery.

    Implications:

    • This case underscores the importance of considering left atrial thrombi as a source of systemic emboli, especially in patients with atrial fibrillation.
    • The diagnostic difficulty emphasizes the need for high clinical suspicion for rare cardiac pathologies presenting with embolic phenomena or obstructive symptoms.

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