An Unusual Cause of Stroke: A "Forgotten" Intracardiac Catheter Discovered After 48 Years

JACC Case Rep. 2022 Nov 3:6:101668. doi: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2022.10.006. eCollection 2023 Jan 18.

Abstract

A 48-year-old man with recurrent cerebral ischemic events underwent transesophageal echocardiography to investigate cardioembolic sources because transthoracic echocardiography had spotted a dubious filamentous mass on the mitral valve. A venous umbilical catheter, lost during the hospital stay after his birth, was surprisingly identified in his cardiac chambers. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

Keywords: 3D transesophageal echocardiography; CMR, cardiac magnetic resonance; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; TEE, transesophageal echocardiography; TTE, transthoracic echocardiography; cardiovascular imaging; umbilical catheter.

Publication types

  • Case Reports