Entrapped thrombus in a foramen ovale causing pulmonary emboli treated with emergent surgery. Literature review.

A 60-year-old woman was admitted due to massive bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism and entrapped thrombus in the patent foramen ovale and severe right ventricular dysfunction. The patient underwent on-pump/beating heart removal of the intracardiac thrombus and bilateral pulmonary embolectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. The chosen surgical strategy seems to offer excellent outcome in patients with severe right ventricular dysfunction.