[Thromboembolus of the right heart. Sonographic detection over 6 hours].

A 75-year old female with chronic bronchitis and cor pulmonale was admitted because of massive pulmonary thromboembolism. Echocardiography showed a 9 cm embolus in the dilated right atrium changing in form and position. It was not fixed to the wall and was prolapsing and relapsing through the tricuspid valve. The tromboembolus was visible in the right heart for a period of at least 6 h. The patient survived without operation or fibrinolytic therapy.