Left atrium ball thrombus in a patient with hemorrhagic cerebral infarction.

The patient was a 72-year-old man with left hemiparesis. Multiple hemorrhagic cerebral infarctions were recognized on a computed tomographic (CT) scan. A transesophageal echocardiogram showed a huge left atrial mass, which was floating and nearly obstructed the mitral orifice in the diastolic phase. Emergency left atrial mass removal was performed. To reduce the risk of critical brain hemorrhage, the dose of heparin was reduced (100 U/kg) and 1 mg/kg/h of nafamostat mesilate was administered into the venous circuit during extracorporeal circulation. A postoperative brain CT scan showed no evidence of deterioration of cerebral hemorrhage. Pathologic examination showed a ball thrombus.
(Copyright © 2013 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)