Unrecognized left ventricular thrombus during reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting

Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Nov;78(5):e79-80. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2003.10.125.

Abstract

Left ventricular thrombus after myocardial infarction is relatively common but rarely threatening enough to warrant surgical removal at the time of coronary revascularization. The rare cases of ventricular thrombectomy described in the literature involve a pedunculated thrombus. We describe an urgent coronary revascularization procedure in a patient who had unrecognized left ventricular thrombus. The large clot was detected by transesophageal echocardiography after decannulation in a hemodynamically unstable patient. The thrombus was removed after placing the patient back on cardiopulmonary bypass emergently. He recovered and was discharged with no neurologic sequelae. Aggressive removal of clot using cardiopulmonary bypass is warranted even for the critically ill patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass
  • Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Coronary Artery Bypass*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Emergencies
  • Heart Diseases / complications
  • Heart Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Diseases / surgery*
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications
  • Myocardial Infarction / surgery*
  • Pacemaker, Artificial
  • Recurrence
  • Sick Sinus Syndrome / complications
  • Sick Sinus Syndrome / therapy
  • Thrombectomy*
  • Thrombosis / complications
  • Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Thrombosis / surgery*

Substances

  • Cardiotonic Agents