Left atrial ball valve thrombus

Abstract

"Ball valve thrombus" which is a spherical free floating clot in left atrium is an often quoted, but uncommonly encountered complication in patients with severe mitral stenosis of rheumatic origin, who are in atrial fibrillation. We describe the case of a 31-year-old lady with rheumatic heart disease, severe mitral stenosis and moderately severe aortic stenosis who had undergone closed mitral valvotomy 13 years ago. The patient presented with an episode of non-exertional syncope and breathlessness on exertion of 6 months duration and was in normal sinus rhythm. Echocardiography facilitated ante-mortem diagnosis and prompt institution of surgery was life saving.