A Cardiac Pseudoaneurysm as a Thromboembolic Source: Acute Visual Loss due to Cardiac Emboli

Abstract EN

Acute visual loss is rarely caused by a heart condition.

This manuscript transcribes a case report of a 36-year-old patient with a 2-year history of aortic valve replacement due to bicuspid aortic valve endocarditis that presents to the emergency department with an acute right eye visual loss.

After ophthalmologic investigation identified a central retinal artery occlusion, a transthoracic echocardiography was performed to search for a possible cardiac embolus, despite the patient presenting INR values of 2-2.5 for the last year.

A mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm was identified.

A transoesophageal echocardiography was then performed, identifying a small clot logged inside the pseudoaneurysm that protruded to the left ventricle outflow tract.

After INR-adjusted warfarin treatment to levels between 3 and 4, the pseudoaneurysm was surgically closed.

This is a rare case since the likely source of embolism to the central retinal artery was the thrombus logged inside the pseudoaneurysm despite a standardly accepted therapeutic INR.