Right Heart Thrombus in Transit Diagnosed With Focused Cardiac Ultrasound in the Emergency Department

Division

West Florida

Hospital

Brandon Regional Hospital

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

7-24-2020

Keywords

focused cardiac ultrasound, thrombus in transit, emergency department, point-of-care-ultrasound, echocardiography, pulmonary embolism (pe), point-of-care ultrasound

Disciplines

Cardiology | Diagnosis | Emergency Medicine | Radiology

Abstract

The diagnosis of a right heart thrombus (RHTh) in transit associated with pulmonary embolism (PE) is an uncommon phenomenon with a high mortality rate. Timely recognition of RHTh with focused cardiac ultrasound (FOCUS) in cases of suspected PE is necessary for critical decision making in the emergency department (ED). We present a case of RHTh with submassive PE in which the patient underwent successful catheter-directed thrombolysis. This case report illustrates the significance of an emergency physician (EP) implementing FOCUS during the initial ED evaluation to rapidly diagnose RHTh in transit and initiate PE therapy without delay.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS