Floating thrombus in the ascending aorta: A rare cause of peripheral emboli

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 150 - 154
• Main Authors: Kalangos, Afksendiyos, Baldovinos, Ary, Vuille, Cédric, Montessuit, Michel, Faidutti, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.07.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aortic Diseases - complications; Aortic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Axillary Artery; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; Embolism - etiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Thrombosis - complications; Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Sonography; Ascending aorta; Human; Echocardiography; Thrombus; Cardiovascular disease; Axillary artery; Embolism; Esophagus; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Case study; Etiology; Ultrasonic transducer; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1016/S0741-5214(97)70161-7

The ascending aorta may be the site of origin of systemic embolization in some cases that do not have an identifiable source. We report a case in which a free-floating thrombus in the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva was detected by transesophageal echocardiography as a source of left axillary artery embolism. After removal of this pedunculated thrombus of unknown cause, which was attached on a macroscopically and histologically normal aortic wall, the patient made an uneventful recovery. (J Vasc Surg 1997;26:150-4.)