Thrombolytic therapy of right heart emboli-in-transit

Abstract

Currently, no consensus exists for the appropriate treatment of echocardiographically diagnosed mobile right heart masses giving rise to a high suspicion of migrant thromboembolism in patients with pulmonary embolism. This may lead to unnecessary delay in the implementation of the most appropriate treatment for these patients. Several earlier studies have supported the beneficial role of thrombolytic therapy. We report on an additional two patients with mobile right heart thromboemboli, refractory to systemic anticoagulation, who recovered quickly after initiation of thrombolytic therapy.