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Query: UMLS:C0034065 (pulmonary embolism)
 14,979 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is more common in patients with stroke than in matched controls, but the stroke mechanism and late prognosis are not well known. We studied features, coexisting causes, and recurrences of stroke in 140 consecutive patients (mean age 44 +/- 14 years) with stroke and PFO admitted to a population-based primary-care center. We selected the patients from 340 patients (41%) aged < or = 60 years with acute stroke. The initial event was brain infarction in 118 patients (84%) and TIA in 22 (16%). Intracranial embolic occlusions were present on angiography or transcranial Doppler in most patients admitted within 12 hours of onset, whereas a venous source was clinically apparent in only six patients (5.5%). Pulmonary embolism, Valsalva maneuver at onset, and coagulation abnormalities were rare, but one-fourth of the patients had an interatrial septum aneurysm (ISA) that coexisted with PFO. An alternative cause of stroke was present in only 22 patients (16%), usually cardiac (atrial fibrillation, severe mitral valve prolapse, akinetic left ventricular segment). During a mean follow-up of 3 years, the stroke or death rate was 2.4% per year, but only eight patients had a recurrent infarct (1.9% per year). This low rate of recurrence contrasted with the severity of initial stroke, which left disabling sequelae in one-half the patients. Multivariate analysis showed that interatrial communication, a history of recent migraine, posterior cerebral artery territory infarct, and a coexisting cause of stroke were associated with recurrence, whereas ISA and treatment type (coagulant or antiaggregant therapy, surgical closure of PFO) were not. However, given the low number of events, these findings must be taken with caution. In conclusion, our study shows that stroke associated with PFO with or without ISA is not commonly due to a coexisting cause of stroke. It is usually embolic, although a definite source cannot often be demonstrated. The presenting stroke is often severe, but recurrence is uncommon. The demonstration of factors associated with a higher risk of recurrence in subgroups of patients is critical for the long-term management of these patients.
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PMID:Stroke recurrence in patients with patent foramen ovale: the Lausanne Study. Lausanne Stroke with Paradoxal Embolism Study Group. 862 71

A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to brain embolism in the right middle cerebral artery. Patent foramen ovale was detected by transesophageal echocardiogram. The sonogram of the legs revealed a floating thrombus originating from the left posterior tibial vein and extended to the superficial femoral vein. Both right middle lobe and left upper lobe were defected in perfusion scans of lung. She was treated with administration of warfarin potassium and caval filters placed in the inferior vena cava and the azygos vein. Thereafter, she had never experienced brain embolism or pulmonary embolism. A floating deep venous thrombus, which is a high risk of pulmonary embolism, could be observed in patients with paradoxical brain embolism. It was suggested that sonography of veins in the legs is essential for detecting embolic sources of brain infarction, as well as evaluating the risk of pulmonary embolism.
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PMID:[Paradoxical brain embolism with a floating deep venous thrombus detected by sonography of lower extremities]. 1591 4

Patent foramen ovale is considered as a potential risk factor for stroke owing to paradoxic embolism, leading to the question "to close or not to close the patent foramen ovale". We report a 26-year-old woman with chest pain, dyspnoea, sudden severe pain in both legs and paraplegia. Thoracic and abdominal computed tomography revealed massive pulmonary embolism and complete obstruction of the abdominal aorta. Interventional removal of the aortic thrombus was undertaken using the Fogarty catheter technique via the femoral arterial approach. As a result of worsening of cardiopulmonary function during the procedure, additional local thrombolysis, with a total of 50 mg recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, and fragmentation of the thrombus in the right pulmonary artery were performed via a femoral vein approach. Ultrasound studies revealed a patent foramen ovale of about 12 mm diameter with a significant right to left shunt. Under favourable conditions, a patent foramen ovale may allow the escape of a thrombus, sufficient to cause a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism, into the arterial system, where it can be removed by interventional manoeuvres.
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PMID:Patent foramen ovale as lifesaving purging valve. 1681 88

Economy class stroke syndrome consists of ischemic stroke due to paradoxical embolism through patent foramen ovale after a long flight. Few cases have been described in the literature to date. The treatment choice could be tricky. We present the case of a 65-year-old woman, admitted for submassive pulmonary embolism after a long flight, that presented a paradoxical embolic stroke through patent foramen ovale shortly after. The patient was treated with intravenous thrombolysis within 1 h of stroke onset with a definite symptoms improvement. Afterwards, intravenous unfractioned heparin was started with strict partial thromboplastin time monitoring. Cerebral computed tomography scan, obtained after 24 and 72 h, ruled out hemorrhage. Warfarin was started after 72 h. Patent foramen ovale was percutaneously closed 3 months after. In the reported case, the treatment with thrombolysis and subsequent heparin infusion was effective and safe. We discuss the rationale for this treatment in the light of literature data.
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PMID:Concomitant submassive pulmonary embolism and paradoxical embolic stroke after a long flight: which is the optimal treatment? 1879 74

Paradoxical embolism is defined as a systemic arterial embolism requiring the passage of a venous thrombus into the arterial circulatory system through a right-to-left shunt. It is a relatively rare phenomenon, representing about 2% of all cases of arterial embolism. We report a case of a 79-years-old woman admitted to hospital because of dyspnea and lower left limb pain. CT scan revealed multiple thrombi to kidney, lower limb and superior mesenteric artery during acute pulmonary embolism. Echocardiogram documented a patent foramen ovale with a right-to-left shunt. The patient was treated with thrombolytic therapy and heparin with progressive improvement of symptoms and resolution of pulmonary embolism and peripheral thrombosis. Patent foramen ovale closure was not performed because a life-long anticoagulation therapy was necessary, a tunnel-type patent foramen ovale may increases difficulty in realizing device implantation and there are no clear evidence-based guidelines to date addressing treatment in presence of a patent foramen ovale.
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PMID:Multiorgan paradoxical embolism consequent to acute pulmonary thromboembolism with patent foramen ovale: a case report. 1991 22

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the setting of venous thromboembolism is associated with paradoxical embolization. We describe a patient who presented with pulmonary embolism, underwent pulmonary embolectomy, and postoperatively developed paradoxical embolization to the lower extremity.A 27-year-old African American male presented to the hospital with shortness of breath and midsternal chest pain along with neck vein distention. A CT scan with contrast showed the presence of a saddle embolus in both pulmonary arteries. The next day, the patient developed right ventricular failure and hypotension. The patient was taken to the operating room for a pulmonary embolectomy. Postoperatively, the patient developed acute left lower extremity ischemia. The origin of the embolus was suspected to be cardiac. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealed thrombus on the mitral valve and a PFO with right to left shunt. At this point vascular surgery for revascularization of the left lower extremity was performed. Two days later, the patient was taken for a repeat cardiac surgery and the left-sided thrombus was removed along with a closure of the PFO.This case signifies the importance of complete TEE and a search for PFO in patients with massive pulmonary embolism especially prior to surgical embolectomy because hemodynamic disturbances of pulmonary embolism and surgical embolectomy may cause migration of the thrombus from the right side to the left side of the heart.
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PMID:Massive pulmonary embolism and paradoxical migration during surgical embolectomy: role of transesophageal echocardiogram. 2001 72

Paradoxical embolism may occur in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism, when a patent foramen ovale(PFO) coexists with a right to left shunt associated to pulmonary hypertension. We presented the case of a 83 year old woman with paradoxical embolism to both legs, in the setting of pulmonary embolism. She was successfully treated with peripheral thrombectomy and anticoagulation. Patent foramen ovale closure wasn't performed because of its small size and right to left shunt absence after clinical stability.
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PMID:Paradoxical embolism and pulmonary embolism in a patient with patent foramen ovale: a case report. 2364 75

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is present in approximately 25% of the general population. PFO is characterized by intermittent shunting of blood from the right to the left atrium, especially in the context of increased right-sided filling pressures, with risk of paradoxical embolism. We describe a 69-year-old woman presenting with acute chest pain, severe dyspnoea, and acute inferolateral ST-segment elevation on the electrocardiogram. The patient was diagnosed with myocardial infarction and failure of the right cardiac ventricle, which was considered to be secondary to extensive pulmonary embolism leading to increased filling pressures and paradoxical coronary embolism. The patient underwent emergent percutaneous interventions with coronary thrombus extraction and pulmonary thrombus fragmentation and local thrombolysis. The patient was free of symptoms at follow up 6 months later and echocardiography showed substantially improved right ventricular function. We discuss issues related to the diagnosis, treatment, and secondary prevention for patients with concomitant pulmonary and coronary arterial thrombosis.
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PMID:Acute right ventricular failure caused by concomitant coronary and pulmonary embolism: successful treatment with endovascular coronary and pulmonary thrombectomy. 2422 22

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is one of the most important causes of paradoxical embolism; it is found in about 25-30% of the population. In most patients, it is asymptomatic and diagnosis is usually made during routine echocardiography. In a small proportion of patients, PFO is diagnosed after paradoxical embolism is suspected. We present a case of a middle-aged smoker who was admitted with lower limb deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, who developed acute upper limb ischaemia during his inpatient stay. Since doctors might dismiss such cases as routine, this report highlights the importance of detailed history taking and examination in patients with venous thromboembolism. Paradoxical embolism should always be considered as a possible diagnosis when managing patients with concomitant venous and arterial embolism.
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PMID:Systemic and venous thromboembolism: think about paradoxical embolism. 2622 Sep 84

BACKGROUND Patent foramen ovale (PFO) are common, normally resulting in a left-to-right shunt or no net shunting. Pulmonary embolism (PE) can cause sustained increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and right atrial pressure. Increasing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) improves oxygenation at the expense of increasing intrathoracic pressures (ITP). Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) decreases shunt fraction, improves ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) matching, increases cardiac output, and decreases right atrial pressure by facilitating low airway pressure. CASE REPORT A 40-year-old man presented with dyspnea and hemoptysis. Oxygen saturation (SaO2) 80% on room air with A-a gradient of 633 mmHg. Post-intubation SaO2 dropped to 71% on assist control, FiO2 100%, and PEEP of 5 cmH20. Successive PEEP dropped SaO2 to 60-70% and blood pressure plummeted. APRV was initaiated with improvement in SaO2 to 95% and improvement in blood pressure. Hemiparesis developed and CT head showed infarction. CT pulmonary angiogram found a large pulmonary embolism. Transthoracic echocardiogram detected right-to left intracardiac shunt, with large PFO. CONCLUSIONS There should be suspicion for a PFO when severe hypoxemia paradoxically worsens in response to increasing airway pressures. Concomitant venous and arterial thromboemboli should prompt evaluation for intra-cardiac shunt. Patients with PFO and hypoxemia should be evaluated for causes of sustained right-to-left pressure gradient, such as PE. Management should aim to decrease PVR and optimize V/Q matching by treating the inciting incident (e.g., thrombolytics in PE) and by minimizing ITP. APRV can minimize PVR and maximize V/Q ratios and should be considered in treating patients similar to the one whose case is presented here.
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PMID:Worsening Hypoxemia in the Face of Increasing PEEP: A Case of Large Pulmonary Embolism in the Setting of Intracardiac Shunt. 2737 10


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