Diagnosis of left atrial thrombus with the aid of transesophageal echocardiography during aortic valve replacement: a case report.

Transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac angiography are the most common tools used in this hospital for evaluation of cardiac disease. Yet the specificity of either method in detection of left atrial pathologies is unsatisfactory. In a 76-year-old male, severe aortic regurgitation with congestive heart failure was impressed from preoperative studies including transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac angiography. However, left atrial thrombus was further detected during routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography. Surgical evacuation of a left atrial thrombus was done before undertaking aortic valve replacement. The timely finding was crucial for prevention of further complication and for expeditious use of definite therapy.