Year: 1999
Type: letter
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: An 11 year old boy with cystic fibrosis suffered a stroke, producing right sided weakness.Four years previously a totally implantable venous access device (Port-a-Cath) had been inserted.Magnetic resonance angiography revealed a filling defect in the left middle cerebral artery.Transoesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a thrombus attached to the tip of the Port-a-Cath and also the presence of a patent foramen ovale.After an initial period of anticoagulation the defect was closed using a septal occlusion device introduced via a cardiac catheter.The boy's neurological signs completely resolved and he remains free from further thromboembolic episodes.Whilst pulmonary embolism has been described before in relation to a totally implantable venous access device, this is believed to be the first description of a paradoxical embolism in relation to such a device.
Source: Thorax
Authors: M HENRY, J E HARVEY, A G ARNOLD;, D. A WALLER, J. G EDWARDS, P. B RAJESH
Institutions: Southmead Hospital, Castle Hill Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2123626726