Intracardiac thrombus traversing a patent foramen ovale: impending paradoxical embolism demonstrated by transoesophageal echocardiography.

Paradoxical embolism is a rare but potentially catastrophic complication of deep venous thromboses and pulmonary embolism. We describe a patient in whom transoesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a large clot traversing the atrial septum which was successfully removed by surgery.