Cerebral thromboembolism in a patient awaiting surgery for left ventricular diverticulum

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2011 Feb;12(2):319-20. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2010.242206. Epub 2010 Nov 29.

Abstract

Fibrous-type left ventricular (LV) diverticulum is usually discovered incidentally. Most fibrous diverticula are clinically silent; they may, however, cause several fatal complications, such as spontaneous rupture. Here, we report a case in which multiple cerebral thromboembolisms occurred while a patient with a fibrous LV diverticulum was awaiting surgery. An 81-year-old woman was diagnosed as having an LV diverticulum and was scheduled for open surgery. Following admission for correction, she complained of headache, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple cerebral infarctions. We recommend surgical treatment for asymptomatic LV diverticula to prevent systemic thromboembolism.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass / methods
  • Diverticulum / diagnosis*
  • Diverticulum / surgery
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Heart Diseases / surgery
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology
  • Heart Ventricles / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Thrombosis / diagnosis*
  • Intracranial Thrombosis / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Risk Assessment
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler
  • Waiting Lists