Echocardiographic evolution of left ventricular and left atrial thrombi in a patient with left ventricular dysfunction due to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, chronic atrial fibrillation and multiple non-fatal systemic embolisms.

The echocardiographic characteristics and evolution of multiple pedunculated left atrial and left ventricular intracavitary thrombi in a patient with alcoholic cardiomyopathy are reported. The patient had a long history of left ventricular dysfunction and atrial fibrillation but the referring physician had not prescribed anticoagulant prophylaxis. Multiple, non-fatal, systemic embolizations occurred during hospitalization and echocardiography was used to monitor the effect of the anticoagulant therapy on the remodelling and final dissolution of intracavitary thrombi.