Abstract

N. ANTEZANA, Alejandro; A. VALLEJOS, Rodrigo  and  O. ANTEZANA, Ariel. Deep vein thrombosis causing pulmonary embolism and ischemic cerebral infarct. Gac Med Bol [online]. 2016, vol.39, n.1, pp.34-37. ISSN 1012-2966.

Herein, we present a case of a 59 years old woman who was admitted to the hospital due to respiratory failure. She was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and massive pulmonary embolism. At the fourth day of admission she developed acute onset of global aphasia and dense acute right hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates an acute infarct in the left medial cerebral artery territory. Transesophageal echocardiogram found a large patent foramen ovale of 1.8 cm of diameter with a large right to left shunting. Patient underwent to successful closure of the defect via cardiac catheterization with no recurrence of embolic events. We also review the literature of paradoxical embolus as a cause of cerebral infarcts and provide some recommendations for treatment and prevention of cryptogenic infarcts.

Keywords : paradoxical embolus; patent foramen ovale; acute cerebral ischemia.

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