Abstract
There are a variety of tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheter-related complications including infection, thrombus formation, and catheter dysfunction. Catheter-related thrombus in right atrium is a rare complication and treatment guideline for atrial thrombus does not exist. A 3.0×2.8 cm sized giant atrial thrombus was found in a 35-year-old female hemodialysis patient. She was treated with catheter removal, thrombolysis and anticoagulation therapy. Size of atrial thrombus was gradually decreased and left ventricular systolic function was clearly improved after treatment. We experienced and reported a case of giant right atrial thrombus associated with tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheter that was successful treated with thrombolytic agent and anticoagulant.
REFERENCES
1.Vascular Access 2006 Work Group. Clinical practice guidelines for vascular access. Am J Kidney Dis. 2006. 48:S176–247.
2.Ghani MK., Boccalandro F., Denktas AE., Barasch E. Right atrial thrombus formation associated with central venous catheters utilization in hemodialysis patients. Intensive Care Med. 2003. 29:1829–32.
3.Fuchs S., Pollak A., Gilon D. Central venous catheter mechanical irritation of the right atrial free Wall: A cause for thrombus formation. Cardiology. 1999. 91:169–72.
4.Lee BH., Kim HG., Lee JY., Kang BK., Chung ES., Seo KI, et al. Huge infected thrombus of right atrium related to hemodialysis catheter. Korean J Nephrology. 2009. 28:514–8.
5.Ram R., Swarnalatha G., Rakesh Y., Jyostna M., Prasad N., Dakshinamurty KV. Right atrial thrombus due to internal jugular vein catheter. Hemodial Int. 2009. 13:261–5.
6.van Laecke S., Dhondt A., de Sutter J., Vanholder R. Right atrial thrombus in an asymptomatic hemodialysis patient with mal-functioning catheter and patent foramen ovale. Hemodial Int. 2005. 9:236–40.
7.Kinney EL., Wright RJ. Efficacy of treatment of patients with echocardiographically detected right-sided heart thrombi: a meta-analysis. Am Heart J. 1989. 118:569–73.
8.Negulescu O., Coco M., Croll J., Mokrzycki MH. Large atrial thrombus formation associated with tunneled cuffed hemodialysis catheters. Clin Nephrol. 2003. 59:40–6.
9.Rose PS., Punjabi NM., Pearse DB. Treatment of right heart thromboemboli. Chest. 2002. 121:806–14.
10.Horner SM., Bell JA., Swanton RH. Infected right atrial thrombus--an important but rare complication of central venous lines. Eur Heart J. 1993. 14:138–40.