[Anesthetic Management of Acute Pulmonary Thrombus Trapped in a Patent Foramen Ovale Detected by Transesophageal Echocardiography].

We report a case of intracardiac thrombus detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). A 61-year-old man with pulmonary embolism was trans- ferred to our hospital presenting with severe respira- tory distress. Emergency surgery was scheduled to remove the thrombus identified in the right atrium by transthoracic echocardiography (TEE). Four-chamber view TEE confirmed penetration of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) to the left atrium by a thrombus ; there was no thrombus in the right ventricle or pulmonary artery. Cardiopulmonary bypass was safely established without deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and the thrombus was removed uneventfully. Subsequent TEE confirmed the absence of the thrombus. In the present case, preoperative TEE was unable to reveal the thrombus trapped in the PFO. TEE is more sensitive in identifying precise information regarding the exis- tence of thrombi. Moreover, contrast echocardiography may help detect right-to-left shunting through a PFO.