Paradoxical embolism - pulmonary thromboembolism and cerebral ischemia due to patent oval foramen, case report

Authors

  • Rafael Tapia Pérez Médico Asistente, Servicio de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Nacional Carlos Alberto Seguín Escobedo, EsSalud, Arequipa, Perú
  • Julio César Álvarez Gamero Médico Cirujano, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Médicos (CIEM)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15381/anales.v77i4.12661

Keywords:

Paradoxical Embolism, Cerebral Ischemia, Foramen Ovale.

Abstract

30 to 40% of cerebrovascular diseases are of unknown or cryptogenic origin; they may be related to patent foramen ovale (PFO) with a prevalence of 12 to 30%. We report the case of a 62 year old woman who underwent surgery for a thyroid tumor. In the postoperative period she presented dyspnea, hypoxemia, impaired consciousness and expression aphasia. Transthoracic echocardiography showed dilatation of right chambers, and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with the presence of echoes compatible with clots bordering this defect; the brain scan revealed a stroke in the left hemisphere. The presence of clots and PFO intraoperatively confirmed the development of pulmonary embolism and paradoxical embolism.

Downloads

Published

2016-12-16

Issue

Section

Casos clínicos

How to Cite

1.
Tapia Pérez R, Álvarez Gamero JC. Paradoxical embolism - pulmonary thromboembolism and cerebral ischemia due to patent oval foramen, case report. An Fac med [Internet]. 2016 Dec. 16 [cited 2024 Aug. 16];77(4):417-20. Available from: https://revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe/index.php/anales/article/view/12661