Surgical treatment of cardiogenic shock due to huge right atrial thromboembolus

An unusual case is reported of thromboembolus in the right atrium associated with cardiogenic shock and multiple pulmonary micro-embolisms. Two-dimensional echocardiograpy demonstrated a large irregular mass in the right atrium floating freely, prolapsing through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle during diastole, and leading to inflow and outflow obstruction. An emergency operation was performed and the thromboembolic material was successfully extracted from the right atrium without using cardiopulmonary bypass. This exemplary case highlights the benefit of surgical intervention rather than more conservative approaches such as anticoagulation and/or thrombolysis.