[A successful removal of a left atrial massive ball thrombus caused by mitral stenosis].

A 66-year-old female with a mitral stenosis and a left atrial massive ball thrombus is presented. She was admitted due to a transient right hemiplegia and a speech disturbance. This thrombus had been detected preoperatively by an echocardiogram and a left atriography. A mitral valve replacement using a Björk-Shiley valve 27 mm, accompanied with the removal of the thrombus was performed. The ball thrombus was dark red, 55 x 35 x 32 mm in size and 15 g in weight. After the surgery, the patient progressed well. Because of the high frequency of peripheral embolism and of sudden death, a left atrial ball thrombus should be removed immediately.