Successful Thrombolysis of an Aortic-Arch Thrombus in a Patient after Mesenteric Embolism

To the Editor: Atherosclerotic plaques and thrombi in the aorta are a common finding at autopsy, 1 but can also be detected during life by transesophageal echocardiography. 2 3 4 5 A significant association has been described between arterial embolism and the presence of atheromatous disease of the aorta. 1 , 2 , 5 Appropriate treatment of patients with arterial embolism and documented thrombi in the aorta has not been defined, however. In a recently reported case involving repeated embolic events, successful aortic endarterectomy was performed. 3 We report here on a patient with peripheral arterial embolism and a large thrombotic mass in the aorta that was successfully treated by thrombolysis. . . .