FATAL PULMONARY EMBOLIZATION OF A RIGHT ATRIAL MASS DURING TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Transesophageal echocardiography is a semi-invasive diagnostic techniq ue with a very low incidence of significant complications. Only two de aths related to the procedure have been reported in the literature. We present the case of a 46-year-old man with a right atrial mass, presu mably a cardiac myxoma. During attempts at esophageal intubation for a transesophageal echocardiography procedure, the mass fragmented and d islodged, causing massive pulmonary embolism and death. We believe tha t to avoid this potential complication, great care must be taken in th e evaluation of patients with a right intracardiac mass by means of tr ansesophageal echocardiography.