Pulmonary and paradoxical coronary embolism with a patent foramen ovale

Concomitant acute myocardial infarction and acute pulmonary embolism caused by paradoxical embolism: a case report

Background

Due to its low incidence and diverse manifestations, paradoxical embolism (PDE) is still under-reported and is not routinely considered in differential diagnoses. Concomitant acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute pulmonary embolism (PE) caused by PDE has rarely been reported.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old woman presented with acute chest pain and difficulty with breathing. Multiple imaging modules including ECG, echocardiography, emergency cardioangiogram (CAG), and CT angiography of the pulmonary arteries showed acute occlusion of the posterolateral artery and acute PE. After coronary aspiration, no residual stenosis was observed. One month later, a bubble study showed inter-atrial communication via a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The AMI in this patient was finally attributed to PDE via the PFO. PFO closure was performed, and long-term anticoagulation was prescribed to prevent recurrent thromboembolic events.

Conclusions

PDE via PFO is a rare etiology of AMI, especially in patients with concomitant AMI and PE. Clinicians should be vigilant of this possibility and close the inter-atrial channel for secondary prevention.

Wide-ranging clinical spectrum of paradoxical embolism

The purpose of this review is to raise the index of suspicion for paradoxical embolism among generalists. The review is based solely on anecdotal reports compiled from EMBASE, MEDLINE, Googlescholar and Pubmed. Search terms were 'paradoxical embolism', 'pulmonary embolism' and 'pulmonary arteriovenous malformations'. What emerged was that right-to-left paradoxical embolism could occur with or without concurrent pulmonary embolism, and also with and without proof of the presence of an 'embolus-in-transit'. Potential sites of single or multiple systemic involvement included the central nervous system, the coronary circulation, renal arterial circulation, splenic circulation, the mesenteric circulation and the limbs. In many cases, the deep veins of the lower limbs were the source of thromboembolism. In other cases, thrombi originated from an atrial septal aneurysm, from a central venous line, from a haemodialysis-related arterio-venous shunt, from a popliteal vein aneurysm, internal jugular vein, superior vena cava, from a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation, from tricuspid valve endocarditis (with and without pulmonary embolism) and from the right atrium, respectively. Stroke was by far the commonest systemic manifestation of paradoxical embolism. Some strokes were attributable to pulmonary arteriovenous malformations with or without coexistence of intracardiac shunts. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for paradoxical embolism because of its time-sensitive dimension when it occurs in the context of involvement of the intracranial circulation, coronary circulation, mesenteric circulation, and peripheral limb circulation.

Risk factors for acute pulmonary embolism in patients with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: implications for nursing

Objective

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a serious complication after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). We aimed to analyze the risk factors for APE in patients with OPCABG.

Methods

In this retrospective, observational study, patients with OPCABG who were treated in our hospital from 1 January 2018 to 31 March 2020 were included. The basic characteristics of patients and results of preoperative laboratory examinations were collected and analyzed.

Results

A total of 707 patients with OPCABG were included and the incidence of APE was 3.21%. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), a history of smoking, number of bypass grafting, duration of surgery, and age were significant risk factors for APE in patients with OPCABG. The areas under the curves of LVEF, number of bypass grafting, duration of surgery, and age were 0.773, 0.759, 0.738, and 0.723, respectively. The cutoff values of LVEF, number of bypass grafting, duration of surgery, and age were 59.84, 3.18, 237.42, and 73.28, respectively.

Conclusions

LVEF, a history of smoking, number of bypass grafting, duration of surgery, and age may be risk factors for APE in patients with OPCABG. Early measures should be taken to target these risks to prevent APE.