Diagnosis of a huge right atrial thrombus during coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Patient: Male, 73 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Coronary artery thrombosis Symptoms: Angina pectoris • short of breath

Medication: - Clinical Procedure: CABG Specialty: Cardiology.

Objective: Management of emergency care.

Background: Intra-operative formation of a thrombus in the right heart is rare and might be unrecognized. However, it can be associated with severe consequences, including pulmonary embolism and death.

Case report: We report the case of a 73-year-old man who presented to the cardiologist with angina pectoris and rare shortness of breath. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed due to multi-vessel disease. Because of hemodynamic insufficiency, an intra-operative transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was performed and a huge free-floating thrombus was detected. Multiple thrombi were removed from the right heart and pulmonary arteries. The patient died after cardiopulmonary bypass support and 12 hours of intensive care.

Conclusions: In this case report, we emphasize the importance of the TEE during the preoperational period and during CABG, as well as in the preoperative evaluation of pulmonary hypertension.