Beyond the Stroke: How Bedside Doppler Unmasked Systemic Embolization

Dr Anmar Alkenzawy · Clinical Cardiology FellowAug 27, 2026, 12:45 AM

Shared for clinician education and discussion. This Case is not patient-specific medical advice.

Clinical setting: Emergency Department, Baghdad Teaching Hospital / Baghdad Medical City. A 62-year-old man with known atrial fibrillation arrived with acute left-hemispheric stroke features and an absent left-arm pulse. Bedside echocardiography showed a left atrial thrombus. Arterial ultrasound/Doppler demonstrated thrombus within the left brachial artery. Urgent brachial embolectomy restored limb perfusion; the limb remained viable at 3-month follow-up.

Bedside echocardiography showing a left atrial thrombus during the emergency assessment.

Arterial ultrasound/Doppler demonstrating thrombus within the left brachial artery.

Arterial ultrasound/Doppler confirming intraluminal thrombus within the left brachial artery.

Discussion