Right heart thrombi in transit represent deep venous thrombi that have mobilized and
become lodged in the right heart en route to the pulmonary arteries, with the potential
to migrate and lead to additional embolic complications. Due to their increased risk
for mortality, right heart thrombi in transit represent a severe form of venous thromboembolism.
In addition, in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) or atrial septal defect (ASD),
right heart thrombi in transit can lead to systemic thromboembolism. Once diagnosed,
right heart thrombi in transit require consideration of emergent treatment such as
thrombolytics, surgical thromboembolectomy, or catheter-based intervention, due to
the potential of the clot to fragment or migrate leading to further vascular obstruction
and hemodynamic compromise.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 17, 2015
Accepted:
November 16,
2014
Received in revised form:
October 10,
2014
Received:
July 16,
2014
Footnotes
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Copyright
© 2015 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
