Which of the following increases the risk for left ventricular thrombus?

Risk factors for the development of LV thrombus are consistently irrespective of infarct treatment and include large infarct size, severe apical asynergy (ie, akinesis or dyskinesis), LV aneurysm, and anterior MI.

What causes left ventricular thrombus?

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is a frequent complication in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction (MI) and in those with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

How does myocardial infarction cause thrombosis?

Myocardial infarction (coronary thrombosis or heart attack) results from the complete occlusion (blockage) of one or more coronary arteries. It arises when atherosclerotic plaques rupture, causing platelet activation, adhesion and aggregation with subsequent thrombus formation within the coronary circulation.

Can a left ventricular thrombus cause stroke?

Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) is associated with a significant risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and peripheral embolization. Societal guidelines recommend the use of warfarin, with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) only for patients unable to tolerate warfarin.

Which of the following patients has the greatest risk of developing heart failure?

Heart failure is most common in people over age 65, African-Americans, and women.

What does mural thrombus mean?

Mural thrombi are thrombi that attach to the wall of a blood vessel and cardiac chamber. Mural thrombus occurrence in a normal or minimally atherosclerotic vessel is a rare entity in the absence of a hypercoagulative state or inflammatory, infectious, or familial aortic ailments.

What is left atrial thrombus?

The left atrial thrombus is a known complication of atrial fibrillation and rheumatic mitral valve disease, especially in the setting of an enlarged left atrium. If not detected and properly treated, it can lead to devastating thromboembolic complications.

Why is coronary atherosclerosis a risk factor for myocardial infarction?

During progression of atherosclerosis, myeloid cells destabilize lipid-rich plaque in the arterial wall and cause its rupture, thus triggering myocardial infarction and stroke. Survivors of acute coronary syndromes have a high risk of recurrent events for unknown reasons.

Why might a blood clot in the left anterior descending artery lead to sudden death?

This term is used because the left main coronary and/or the left anterior descending supply blood to large areas of the heart. This means that if these arteries are abruptly and completely occluded it will cause a massive heart attack that will likely lead to sudden death.

What conditions may result from a blood clot that forms in the left ventricle after a myocardial infarction?

The primary risk of LVT is the occurrence of cardiac embolism, in which the thrombus detaches from the ventricular wall and travels through the circulation and blocks blood vessels. Blockage can be especially damaging in the heart or brain (stroke).

How is left ventricular thrombosis treated?

Anticoagulant therapy is used to reduce embolic complications from LVT while improved cardiac function and innate fibrinolytic mechanisms help resolve the thrombus. Vitamin K antagonists such as warfarin have been used and their efficacy and safety have been evaluated in non-randomized studies.