Incidental finding of a pulmonary embolus by intracardiac echocardiography during an atrial fibrillation ablation procedure

Europace. 2010 Aug;12(8):1199-200. doi: 10.1093/europace/euq121. Epub 2010 May 13.

Abstract

A 71-year-old female patient was referred for catheter ablation of drug-refractory, symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Initial intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) incidentally showed a mobile embolus stuck at a bifurcation of the right pulmonary artery. The procedure was suspended and the finding was subsequently confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography. This case illustrates a potential value of real-time imaging by ICE during invasive procedures.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiography
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / diagnostic imaging*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / surgery*
  • Catheter Ablation*
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Embolism / complications
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging*