[Thrombosis of the right atrium disclosed by severe pulmonary embolism].

The case of a thrombosis of the right auricle, revealed by severe pulmonary embolism in a 56-year-old patient without significant medical history is reported. He was admitted to the ICU with a haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident. The course was characterized by the occurrence of a venous thrombosis of the right lower limb confirmed by phlebography. The treatment with a platelet antiaggregating agent was effective and the patient left hospital two weeks later. He was re-admitted after 2 months with a clinical picture of massive embolism including polypnea, tachycardia and haemoptysis. The diagnosis was confirmed by pulmonary angiography (Miller index > 65%) and echocardiography showed a floating thrombus in the right auricle with dilated right cavities. The phlebocavography displayed an extensive thrombosis in the left lower limb up to femoral, iliac and cava inferior veins. The patient was treated with heparin (500 IU.kg-1.d-1) and later with antivitamine K. The course was favourable. This is a rare case of extensive thrombosis, completely regressive with a treatment including only heparin.