FREE-FLOATING LEFT ATRIAL THROMBUS - ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC DEMONSTRATION AND TREATMENT WITH ORAL ANTICOAGULATION

Echocardiography showed a voluminous free-floating left atrial thrombu s in an 80-year-old woman affected by rheumatic mitral stenosis with l ong-standing atrial fibrillation who was admitted because of transient left arm paralysis and drop attack without loss of conscience. She re fused open heart surgery and was treated with warfarin. One month late r echocardiography detected complete disappearance of the thrombus; no episodes of peripheral embolization had occurred since the beginning of medication with warfarin. According to this report, warfarin is a v aluable alternative to surgical treatment for free-floating left atria l thrombi.