Spontaneous Microbubbles in Transit in the Right Cardiac Chambers

Abstract

We present two patients with echocardiographically detected small echoes passing through the right heart cavities, consistent with the clinical picture of thromboemboli. After anticoagulant treatment, pulmonary artery pressure fell and the echocardiographic picture of small echoes in transit disappeared. In the authors' opinion, the detected echoes passing through the right heart represented microthromboemboli in transit. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, July 1996)

Spontaneous Echocardiographic Contrast Associated with Portosystemic Shunt Due to Persistent Patent Ductus Venosus

“…The differential diagnosis of spontaneous contrast originating from the right side of the circulation includes constrictive pericarditis, 5 gas originating from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, 5 microthrombi, 5,6 low cardiac output states 5,7,8 hypoalbuminemia, 8 accidental IV bubbles, 1,5,7 and microcavitations as a result of tricuspid valve abnormalities and right heart failure 1,7 . It is important to categorize spontaneous contrast according to its mechanism of generation, which will influence the echocardiographic appearance of this phenomenon.…”