Background
Ascending aortic thrombus has been reported in several case reports, often revealed by peripheral embolization, but very few revealed by cardiocerebral infarction. Moreover, there is no defined treatment strategy.
Case Summary
An 83-year-old woman was admitted to our intensive care unit for concurrent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute stroke, both with the presence of an embolism. Imaging revealed a floating thrombus in the ascending aorta. The thrombus resolved after anticoagulant therapy was administered, and there was no subsequent embolism recurrence.
Discussion
Floating thrombus in the ascending aorta is an unusual cause of AMI.
The main mechanisms of thrombus formation include erosion of an atherosclerotic plaque, but it can also form without tissue abnormality with the probable implication of Virchow’s triad. However, the precise mechanism for thrombogenesis remains unknown.
In patients with a low surgical risk, we should consider surgical treatment, especially as anticoagulant therapy does not appear to reduce the risk of arterial embolization. Thrombolysis and endovascular interventions have also proven effective in certain cases.
Overall, in patients with high surgical risk, decision will have to be made on a case-by-case basis.
Learning point
Ascending aortic thrombus should be suspected in cases of multiple systemic embolisms.
Simultaneous AMI and ischemic stroke should lead to a search for arterial embolization, and it could be useful to perform a head and chest CT scan prior to cardiac catheterization in case of neurologic symptoms in the context of AMI.