Left ventricular thrombus

[Pocketfull]

My husband had X2 stemi & a stroke last autumn. He has recovered incredibly well. Last week we heard a heart MRI showed a mural thrombus upon a damaged area of left ventricular apex. He has been put on anti coagulation & will be reviewed in 6 months. The potential problem of embolization is very frightening - given that he has already had a stroke with no lasting impact. Has anyone else had this diagnosis? Does anyone have any advice? Thank you

[EU95PTM]

I am sorry to hear about your husband’s heart attacks and stroke, those must have been very frightening. I too had a thrombus in the apex my left ventricle following a stemi, it was about 2cmx2cm in size and was only discovered by chance on re admission to hospital around 10 days after the stemi. I was started on warfarin immediately and it took 8 months to resolve (I had a cardiac MRI to check that it had gone). I’ll admit that I felt very frightened by the possibility of it embolizing and causing a stroke so you are not alone in feeling that way. I don’t know what reassurance I can offer you other than to say that the anti-coagulation drugs should hopefully resolve it fairly quickly. I’m now off all blood thinners (apart from a daily aspirin).

[dharkan in reply to EU95PTM]

hi, sorry to hear a out your husband’s HA but glad to hear that he is recovering well. I had a STEMI in Oct 2021 aged 47 and had a similar Thrombus and again was accidentally picked up at a follow up Echo. Was put on Apixaban immediately. Had two follow up MRI’s and eventually the clot was cleared around 8 months later. The cardiologist was very confident, advised to carry on with normal life but have the medications on time. I fully understand your situation , the thought of living with a clot is scary. But stay positive and try to lead a normal life. All the best to you both.

[Pocketfull in reply to EU95PTM]

Thanks for answering. I know the chances are that things will be ok. Scary though!

[Pocketfull in reply to EU95PTM]

Thanks for answering. Good to hear that it seems to have resolved well for you. He's really well after all that's happened so we'll just 🤞🤞and keep taking the medicine

[Coffeelover2]

Hi, I had a thrombus in my left ventricle. If he is on anti-coagulation, the chances of something happening are pretty slim and after 6 months, there is a high chance that it will be gone. The risk is largely in the first 3 or 4 months but the thrombus probably formed shortly after his heart attack.

Just make sure they keep doing MRIs until it is gone as they are the best test. They think I may have had a false negative from a bubble echo study so they have kept me on Rivaroxaban but they don’t think I need another MRI. I had the thrombus last February and the MRI in October said it was gone.

[Pocketfull in reply to Coffeelover2]

Thanks for answering. As recovery & all measures (Ejection fraction etc) has gone incredibly well, it feels like a frightening set back. Particularly as he's had a stroke already & escaped pretty much unscathed.

[Coffeelover2 in reply to Pocketfull]

Hi, a thrombus isn’t that rare - it formed because of his HA. If he just keep takes the meds he’ll be fine. There’s a theory that the thrombus could be there to assist with healing but I understand the worry as a thrombus can embolize like you said. The chance of something happening with blood thinners and the fact his health is improving is very unlikely. It annoyed and worried me too but it shouldn’t stop him living his life