Kalcik Macit, Toprak Cüneyt, Ozan Gursoy M, Yesin Mahmut, Ocal Lutfi, Eren Hayati, Özkan Mehmet
Department of Cardiology, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Echocardiography. 2014 Apr;31(4):E111-4. doi: 10.1111/echo.12491. Epub 2013 Dec 20.
Eustachian valve (EV) is a vestige of the valve of the inferior vena cava which directs the umbilical vein blood through open foramen ovale in fetal life. Following birth it gradually regresses, but it may persist in variable size, shape, and thickness as a functionless and benign structure. However, there are reports suggesting that persistent EV may not be completely innocent. It has been accused of being a predisposing cause of patent foramen ovale and paradoxical embolism and also interfering with transseptal interventional procedures. It may serve as a site of infective vegetations and be mistaken as a tumor or thrombus. In the present case, an octopus-like thrombus attached to the EV was delineated with the utility of two-dimensional and real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. EV was considered to play an essential role in preventing potential pulmonary embolism.
咽鼓管瓣膜（EV）是下腔静脉瓣膜的遗迹，在胎儿期引导脐静脉血通过开放的卵圆孔。出生后它会逐渐退化，但可能作为一种无功能的良性结构以不同的大小、形状和厚度持续存在。然而，有报告表明持续存在的EV可能并非完全无害。它被认为是卵圆孔未闭和反常栓塞的易感因素，还会干扰经间隔介入操作。它可能成为感染性赘生物的附着部位，并被误诊为肿瘤或血栓。在本病例中，通过二维和实时三维经食管超声心动图描绘出了附着在EV上的章鱼样血栓。EV被认为在预防潜在的肺栓塞中起重要作用。
