Yeo T C, Miller F A, Oh J K, Freeman W K
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 1998 Jan;11(1):66-70. doi: 10.1016/s0894-7317(98)70122-1.
Embolic events have become a major indication for transesophageal echocardiography. We report three patients with cerebrovascular accident who were discovered to have retained left atrial catheter as a cardiac source of embolism. These radiolucent catheters, placed during previous cardiac surgery, were used for perioperative left atrial monitoring. Fracture of the catheter occurred during percutaneous removal after surgery. Subsequent identification was established by transesophageal echocardiography, which demonstrated a characteristic appearance of the catheter remnant within the left atrium. All patients underwent reoperation to remove the retained catheter and have had no recurrent embolic events. Although uncommon, retained catheter in the left atrium is an important potential source of systemic embolism. The diagnosis can be easily made with transesophageal echocardiography and should prompt surgical extraction of the catheter.
栓塞事件已成为经食管超声心动图检查的主要适应证。我们报告了3例脑血管意外患者，经发现其左心房留置导管是栓塞的心脏来源。这些在先前心脏手术期间放置的射线可透过的导管，用于围手术期左心房监测。术后经皮拔除导管时发生导管断裂。随后经食管超声心动图检查确诊，该检查显示左心房内导管残余物具有特征性表现。所有患者均接受再次手术以取出留置导管，且未再发生栓塞事件。尽管不常见，但左心房留置导管是系统性栓塞的一个重要潜在来源。经食管超声心动图检查可轻松做出诊断，且应促使手术取出导管。
