Paradoxical embolism-in-transit: diagnosis and surgical treatment

Paradoxical embolism-in-transit is an uncommon presentation of the thromboembolism complex. The advent of echocardiography has permitted its antemortem diagnosis and serves to guide treatment; this is illustrated by the case of a 51-year-old female who presented with paradoxical embolism-in-transit and pulmonary embolism following craniotomy. Echocardiography demonstrated mobile clot straddling the atrial septum and embolus in the right pulmonary artery. Surgery successfully removed all clots as demonstrated by intraoperative echocardiography, and the patient had an uneventful recovery.