Giant left ventricular thrombus formation associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Ann Thorac Surg. 2014 Dec;98(6):e143-5. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.08.054. Epub 2014 Dec 1.

Abstract

A 33-year-old man underwent urgent coronary artery de-obstruction for acute thrombotic occlusion of the left descending coronary artery. After 10 days of antiplatelet and heparin therapy, ventriculographic and echocardiographic control revealed a giant thrombus in the left ventricle, an ejection fraction of 40%, and severe mitral regurgitation. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was diagnosed. After urgent mitral valve annuloplasty and left ventricular thrombectomy, the patient was discharged. In the literature, several cases of right atrial and ventricular thrombi have been described; however, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of giant left ventricular thrombus during heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Echocardiography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gated Blood-Pool Imaging
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis
  • Heart Diseases / etiology*
  • Heart Diseases / surgery
  • Heart Ventricles*
  • Heparin / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Thrombectomy / methods*
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced
  • Thrombocytopenia / complications*
  • Thrombosis / diagnosis
  • Thrombosis / etiology*
  • Thrombosis / surgery

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Heparin