Pulmonary Thromboembolism With Floating Thrombus Trapped in Patent Foramen Ovale

A 39-year-old man was hospitalized with symptoms of acute deep vein thrombosis, and computed tomography showed that he had pulmonary thromboembolism. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large, right atrial thrombus and transesophageal echocardiography showed migrating thrombus trapped in a patent foramen ovale and extending all the way up to the ascending aorta. He underwent surgical embolectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. At the conclusion of the operation, repeat transesophageal echocardiography examination revealed fresh but small thrombus in the right atrium. This continued entry of thrombi into the heart was further managed with fluoroscopy-guided insertion of a retrievable inferior vena cava filter through the internal jugular vein in the operating room itself.