Assessment of early changes in the segmental functions of the left and the right ventricles after biventricular pacing in heart failure: a study with tissue Doppler imaging.

Tissue Doppler imaging allows assessment of systolic and diastolic regional ventricular function. The aim of this study was to assess early changes in regional systolic and diastolic functions and differences in transition time to contraction between the ventricles after cardiac resynchronization therapy. Fourteen patients were included, who underwent echocardiography before and 1 month after resynchronization.

Echocardiographic diagnosis of a giant thrombus passing through a patent foramen ovale from right atrium to the left atrium.

Pulmonary embolus sourced by right atrial thrombus trapped in a patent foramen ovale is an unusual, rare condition. Thus in suspicion of massive pulmonary thromboembolus, echocardiographic examination carries great importance evaluate right ventricular functions and diagnose right sided intracardiac thrombus. We report a 76-year-old female with massive pulmonary embolism caused by a gigantic thrombus trapped in a patent foramen ovale.