Computed tomography for the detection of free-floating thrombi in the right heart in acute pulmonary embolism

2010 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 240-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Mansencal ◽  
David Attias ◽  
Vincent Caille ◽  
Julien Desperramons ◽  
Julie Guiader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Right Heart ◽  
The Right

scholarly journals Point-of-care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Pulmonary Embolism with Thrombus in Transit

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Kahl ◽  
Christopher Gabriel ◽  
Shadi Lahham ◽  
Maxwell Thompson ◽  
Wirachin Hoonpongsimanont
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Skilled Nursing Facility ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Right Heart ◽  
Skilled Nursing ◽  
Chamber View ◽  
The Right ◽  
In Transit

A 95-year-old female with a history of dementia and atrial fibrillation (not on anticoagulation) presented to the emergency department (ED) by ambulance from her skilled nursing facility due to hypoxia. Point-of-care ultrasound was performed, and showed evidence of a large mobile thrombus in the right ventricle on apical four-chamber view. Further evidence of associated right heart strain was seen on the corresponding parasternal short-axis view. These ultrasound findings in combination with the patient’s clinical presentation are diagnostic of acute pulmonary embolism with right heart strain. Point-of-care transthoracic cardiac ultrasound in the ED is an effective tool to promptly diagnose acute pulmonary embolism with right heart strain and thrombus in transit and guide further treatment.

scholarly journals Free Floating Right Heart Thrombus Associated with Acute Pulmonary Embolism: An Unsettled Therapeutic Difficulty

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clovis Nkoke ◽  
Olivier Faucher ◽  
Lise Camus ◽  
Laurence Flork
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Thrombolytic Therapy ◽  
Right Ventricle ◽  
Transthoracic Echocardiography ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Acute Onset ◽  
Optimal Management ◽  
Right Heart

Free floating right heart thrombus is a rare phenomenon in the context of acute pulmonary embolism and it is associated with a poor outcome. The increased use of echocardiography has led to an increased detection of right heart thrombi. However, optimal management of free floating right heart thrombus remains controversial with no clear consensus. We present the case of a 74-year-old woman who presented to the emergency department with acute onset dyspnea on minimal exertion which had developed over a period of 1 day. A computed tomography of the chest demonstrated massive bilateral proximal pulmonary embolism. A bedside transthoracic echocardiography performed showed a moderately dilated, poorly functioning right ventricle with visible highly mobile serpiginous thrombus moving to and fro across the tricuspid valve. Thrombolytic therapy was immediately initiated with tenecteplase which resulted in excellent results. Although there is no clear consensus for the management of right heart thrombus associated with pulmonary embolism, thrombolysis is readily available and can be effective in carefully selected patients.

scholarly journals Incidence and morphological characteristics of the reversed halo sign in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and pulmonary infarction undergoing computed tomography angiography of the pulmonary arteries

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Dias Mançano ◽  
Rosana Souza Rodrigues ◽  
Miriam Menna Barreto ◽  
Gláucia Zanetti ◽  
Thiago Cândido de Moraes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Computed Tomography Angiography ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Pulmonary Arteries ◽  
Lower Lobe ◽  
Pulmonary Infarction ◽  
Halo Sign ◽  
Reversed Halo Sign ◽  
The Right

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the incidence of the reversed halo sign (RHS) in patients with pulmonary infarction (PI) due to acute pulmonary embolism (PE), detected by computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the pulmonary arteries, and to describe the main morphological features of the RHS. Methods: We evaluated 993 CTA scans, stratified by the risk of PE, performed between January of 2010 and December of 2014. Although PE was detected in 164 scans (16.5%), three of those scans were excluded because of respiratory motion artifacts. Of the remaining 161 scans, 75 (46.6%) showed lesions consistent with PI, totaling 86 lesions. Among those lesions, the RHS was seen in 33 (38.4%, in 29 patients). Results: Among the 29 patients with scans showing lesions characteristic of PI with the RHS, 25 (86.2%) had a single lesion and 4 (13.8%) had two, totaling 33 lesions. In all cases, the RHS was in a subpleural location. To standardize the analysis, all images were interpreted in the axial plane. Among those 33 lesions, the RHS was in the right lower lobe in 17 (51.5%), in the left lower lobe in 10 (30.3%), in the lingula in 5 (15.2%), and in the right upper lobe in 1 (3.0%). Among those same 33 lesions, areas of low attenuation were seen in 29 (87.9%). The RHS was oval in 24 (72.7%) of the cases and round in 9 (27.3%). Pleural effusion was seen in 21 (72.4%) of the 29 patients with PI and the RHS. Conclusions: A diagnosis of PE should be considered when there are findings such as those described here, even in patients with nonspecific clinical symptoms.

scholarly journals Pulmonary Embolism and Right Heart Thrombi: A Single-Center Experience

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaser Jenab ◽  
Hamid Ariannejad ◽  
Zahra Rabbani ◽  
Faezeh Soveyzi ◽  
Ali HosseinSabet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Right Ventricular Dysfunction ◽  
Right Heart ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Study Population ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Heart Center ◽  
The Right ◽  
Baseline Demographic

Background: The right heart thrombus (RHT) embolizes from deep venous thrombi and sits in the right atrium or the right ventricle. We aimed to determine the occurrence and prognosis of the RHT in patients with pulmonary embolism. Methods: We reviewed the cohort data of 622 patients with acute pulmonary embolism obtained from the registry of Tehran Heart Center. Demographic, physiological, clinical, and echocardiographic data, as well as clinical outcomes, were compared between patients with and without the RHT. Results: The study population comprised 622 patients, including 329 men (52.8%). The mean age of the patients was 60.2±17.0 years. Thirty patients (4.8%) had echocardiographically proven RHT. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were not different between the 2 groups. Right ventricular dysfunction was more prevalent in the RHT (+) group, and more patients in this group were treated with thrombolysis (P=0.013 and P<0.001, respectively). Overall, 3 out of 21 patients (14.2%) in the RHT (+) group vs 29 out of 306 patients (9.4%) in the RHT (−) group died at 1 month (P=0.445) and 5 out of 21 patients (23.8%) in the RHT (+) group vs 56 out of 307 patients (18.2%) in the RHT (−) group died at 1 year (P=0.562). Conclusion: The RHT is an influential complication in patients with pulmonary emboli, and it seems to increase the mortality rate of patients with acute pulmonary embolism.  

scholarly journals An incidental finding of testicular seminoma in the context of acute pulmonary embolism: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaitlin J. Mayne ◽  
Emma Lewis ◽  
Lewis Vickers
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Clinical Guidelines ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Incidental Finding ◽  
White Male ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Testicular Seminoma ◽  
Computed Tomography Scanning ◽  
The Right

Abstract Background Clinical guidelines do not recommend further investigation for occult malignancy in the scenario of unprovoked venous thromboembolism in the absence of additional clinical features suggestive of malignancy. We present the case of a young gentleman with pulmonary embolism who was diagnosed with testicular seminoma despite lack of symptoms or signs suggestive of malignancy. This is a unique case describing a scenario not well documented in existing literature where contravention of clinical guidelines had a potentially advantageous outcome for the patient. Case presentation A 37-year-old white male presented with seemingly unprovoked acute pulmonary embolism with right heart strain. He did not have any predisposing factors for venous thromboembolism and did not have any symptoms or signs suggestive of malignancy. Clinical guidelines do not recommend further investigation to screen for malignancy in this scenario. Despite this, our young, otherwise healthy patient proceeded to computed tomography scanning, resulting in the diagnosis of localized testicular seminoma. Testicular ultrasound described normal-sized testes (despite a discrete lesion in the right testis), suggesting this was not detectable by the patient or clinician on routine examination. The patient was anticoagulated and had an inferior vena cava filter inserted to facilitate orchidectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Conclusions This case highlights the importance of considering malignancy in seemingly unprovoked venous thromboembolism and the availability of guidelines to direct further investigation. Our patient’s treatment was not in line with clinical guidelines and was considered a “lucky find.”

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