PARADOXICAL EMBOLISM-IN-TRANSIT - DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL-TREATMENT

Paradoxical embolism-in-transit is an uncommon presentation of the thr omboembolism complex. The advent of echocardiography has permitted its antemortem diagnosis and serves to guide treatment; this is illustrat ed by the case of a 51-year-old female who presented with paradoxical embolism-in-transit and pulmonary embolism following craniotomy. Echoc ardiography demonstrated mobile clot straddling the atrial septum and embolus in the right pulmonary artery. Surgery successfully removed al l clots as demonstrated by intraoperative echocardiography, and the pa tient had an uneventful recovery.