Idiopathic ascending aortic and aortic arch thrombus with systemic embolization: a case report

Abstract

We report a particularly interesting case in which a free-floating thrombus of unknown origin in the ascending aorta and extending into aortic arch with each heart beat was attached to a mildly atherosclerotic aortic wall. The thrombus was thought to have been the origin of a previous right axillary artery thrombo-embolism. The thrombus was removed directly from ascending aorta after putting the patient on circulatory arrest; the axillary artery thrombus was also removed simultaneously from the same incision with the help of Fogarty catheter placed antegradely.