Surgical treatment of thromboembolia in the heart right atrium in pregnant women

Two clinical cases of surgical treatment of cardiac right-chamber thromboembolism in pregnant women are described. Thromboembolism was diagnosed during a routine examination. In the first clinical case, considering the late pregnancy, a thromboembolectomy was performed under artificial circulation after surgical delivery.In the second case, thrombus removal from the right atrium was performed on a working heart, without interruption of pregnancy. The surgical and postsurgical period proceeded without any specific features and the patients were discharged from the hospital without any complications. These clinical cases show that it is possible to remove thrombus from the right heart chambers without the use of extracorporeal circulation, which is also safe for the mother and the fetus.

Abstract 17133: Complete Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis In A Sickle Cell Patient With Suspected May Thurner Syndrome

Case Presentation: 19 year old woman with sickle cell anemia and nephrotic syndrome presented with leg and back pain. While treated for vaso-occlusive crisis, patient developed dyspnea and chest pain. She underwent CT chest which revealed a right lower lobe pulmonary embolism. The patient was started on anticoagulation. Her transthoracic echocardiography revealed normal right heart function but nearly occlusive inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus just distal to the right atrium. Subsequently a CT venogram demonstrated extensive thrombus from the left external iliac vein to the right atrium as well as compression of the left common iliac vein. Multidisciplinary discussion was performed to discuss options including medical therapy, surgical removal, or catheter-based removal. Given concern for further pulmonary embolization, patient underwent catheter based thrombus removal. A 26 french access was obtained in the right internal jugular vein and a 17 french access was obtained in the right femoral vein. Using the Angiovac system, mechanical thrombectomy was performed in the IVC. The angiovac system is a 24 french suction catheter with filtration and reperfusion through the right femoral vein. Limited thrombus removal was achieved. Next,14 french left femoral vein access was obtained and the Inari Clottriever device was used to mechanically score and remove a significant amount of thrombus (Figure 1). Post removal angiography revealed a patent IVC with minimal residual thrombus. Discussion: IVC thrombosis is a rare presentation of venous thromboembolism (VTE). This patient had multiple reasons for VTE including nephrotic syndrome and likely May Thurner Syndrome (MTS). MTS is an underdiagnosed entity resulting in mechanical compression of the left iliac vein in upto 50% of patients presenting with left lower extremity VTE. While proximal extension of thrombus is rare as seen in this case, high clinical suspicion is warranted for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Percutaneous Thrombus Removal in COVID-19–Infected Patient with Pulmonary Embolism

We present a case describing the use of the AngioVac system (AngioDynamics, Inc.) and SENTINEL™ cerebral protection system (SCPS; Boston Scientific) in a patient with COVID-19 who initially presented with a large deep-vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity, complicated by a pulmonary embolism. Although he initially improved with systemic alteplase, he later developed a second large clot diagnosed in transit in the right atrium. Within 12 hours from initial thrombolysis, this large clot wedged across an incidental patent foramen ovale (PFO), the atrial septum, and the cavotricuspid annulus. We emergently performed a percutaneous clot extraction with preemptive placement of the SCPS in anticipation of cardioembolic phenomenon. A large (> 10 cm) clot was extracted without complication, and the patient was discharged home. The combined use of SCPS and AngioVac in this case suggests a potential role for percutaneous treatment of severe and consequential thromboembolic disease, especially in patients with a PFO, and may be considered as an alternative and less-invasive option in patients with COVID-19. While cerebral embolic protection devices are approved for and widely used in transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures, there is a theoretical benefit for use in percutaneous thrombolectomies as well.

Perioperative evaluation of neonatal aortic arch thrombosis

Herein, we present a neonatal case of coarctation of the aorta, with aortic arch thrombus confirmed by echocardiography. We performed thrombus removal and aortic arch repair emergently. This critical condition necessitates quick preoperative evaluation with echocardiography. Moreover, postoperative evaluation using computed tomography is reasonable to assess an aortic arch configuration, and exclude the remnant thrombus.