TY - JOUR AU - Dimitrios Anyfantakis AU - Paraskevi Karona AU - Pagona Kastanaki AU - Athanasios Kourakos AU - Miltiades Kastanakis PY - 2019/01/27 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Multiorgan paradoxical embolism in an elderly female with a patent foramen ovale: a case report JF - Medicine and Pharmacy Reports JA - Medicine and Pharmacy Reports VL - 92 IS - 1 SE - Case Report DO - 10.15386/cjmed-1031 UR - https://medpharmareports.com/index.php/mpr/article/view/1031 AB - Paradoxical embolism is an uncommon cause of arterial occlusion with a high mortality burden. Current evidence suggests that patent foramen ovale is the most important etiological factor of paradoxical embolism, by acting as a pathway for a thromboembolic material originating from the peripheral veins, passing through the lungs and entering the systemic circulation. Here we present a case of paradoxical embolism in the mesenteric and renal arteries associated with pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis in an elderly woman with no predisposing risk factor. A diagnosis of paradoxical embolism was considered and the presence of a patent foramen ovale was consequently confirmed with a transesophageal echocardiography. Urgent thrombolysis saved the life of the patient. Paradoxical embolism represents an emergency and therefore prompt diagnosis and initiation of therapy may prevent adverse outcomes. ER -