TRAPPED VENOUS EMBOLUS IN A PATENT FORAMEN OVALE CAUSING RECURRENT PARADOXICAL EMBOLISM

The combination of deep venous thrombosis, patent foramen ovale and ar terial emboli suggests the diagnosis of paradoxical embolism. In these cases, only very rarely, a causal relationship between the venous thr ombus and the patent foramen can be established. An instructive case o f trapped venous embolism within the foramen ovale is described provin g a causal relationship between arterial embolism and its venous origi n.