Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi
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Floating right heart thrombi (FRHTs) are rare in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). FRHTs are an extreme therapeutic emergency, and any delay in treatment could be lethal. Heparin, thrombolysis, and catheter therapy are used most frequently to treat acute PTE. ⋯ Thromboembolectomy was performed on cardiopulmonary bypass. One patient became brain dead 10 days postoperatively owing to cardiopulmonary arrest before surgery. The two survivors were subsequently discharged home after uneventful recoveries.