ISOLATED PARADOXICAL EMBOLUS TO THE RIGHT CORONARY-ARTERY

Coronary arterial embolus is an uncommon form of occlusive coronary artery disease. Coronary emboli generally arise from within the heart (native or prosthetic aortic or mitral valves, left atrium, left ventricle, or intracardiac catheters or wires). The source of the coronary embolus is less often remote from the left heart - paradoxical. Frequent target sites of paradoxical emboli are extremities and cerebrum, much less frequently coronary, renal or splenic arteries.1 We wish to place on record the rare occurrence of a paradoxical embolus that entered the systemic circulation through an interatrial defect, lodged in the right coronary artery, and caused a near fatal myocardial infarction. © 1992.