Is the removal of a central venous catheter always necessary in the context of catheter-related right atrial thrombosis?

Abstract

Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis is a severe and life-threatening complication of central venous catheters in both adult and young patients. Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis can occur with any type of central venous catheters, utilized either for hemodialysis or infusion. Up to 30% of patients with central venous catheter are estimated to be affected by catheter-related right atrial thrombosis; however, neither precise epidemiological data nor guidelines regarding medical or surgical treatment are available. This complication seems to be closely associated with positioning of the catheter tip in the atrium, whereas it is unlikely with a tip located within superior vena cava. Herein, we report the case of a patient affected by catheter-related right atrial thrombosis, who showed a quick resolution of thrombosis with a new therapeutic scheme combining loco-regional thrombolytic therapy (urokinase as a locking solution) and systemic anticoagulation therapy (vitamin K antagonists), thus avoiding catheter removal. Neither complications of the combination therapy were reported, nor recurrence of catheter-related right atrial thrombosis occurred. In conclusion, the combination therapy here described was safe, quick and effective, achieving the goal of not removing the catheter.

• Authors: Luigi Rossi, Pasquale Libutti, Francesco Casucci, Piero Lisi, Annalisa Teutonico, Carlo Basile, Carlo Lomonte
• Journal: The journal of vascular access (J Vasc Access) Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 98-101 (Jan 2019) ISSN: 1724-6032 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29749281 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticoagulants
• Fibrinolytic Agents
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

Topics

• Adult
• Anticoagulants (administration & dosage)
• Catheterization, Central Venous (adverse effects, instrumentation)
• Catheters, Indwelling (adverse effects)
• Central Venous Catheters (adverse effects)
• Clinical Decision-Making
• Device Removal
• Echocardiography
• Fibrinolytic Agents (administration & dosage)
• Heart Diseases (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, etiology)
• Humans
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (diagnosis, physiopathology, therapy)
• Male
• Renal Dialysis
• Thrombolytic Therapy (methods)
• Thrombosis (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, etiology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator (administration & dosage)