PARADOXICAL EMBOLISM AT THE AORTIC-ARCH D IAGNOSED BY TRANSESOPHAGEALECHOCARDIOGRAPHY - SURGICAL-TREATMENT

The authors report the case of a woman who presented with a pulmonary embolism followed by systemic embolism. Transoesophageal echocardiogra phy showed a persistent foramen ovale compatible with a possible parad oxical embolism. In addition, a mobile embolism in the aortic arch was demonstrated. This embolism was extracted under cardiopulmonary bypas s to avoid a recurrence of embolism. Transoesophageal echocardiography is the only reliable, non-invasive method allowing simultaneous diagn osis of a fight to left shunt and visualisation of the thoracic aorta.