Right atrial thrombosis associated with hemodialysis catheter: first description of recurrence in a poorly understood problem

How to manage catheter-related right atrial thrombosis: Our conservative approach

BACKGROUND

Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis is an underestimated, severe, and life-threatening complication of any type of central venous catheters. No clear-cut epidemiological data are available. Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis is often asymptomatic; however, it can lead to serious complications and death.

CASE SERIES

We report seven catheter-related right atrial thrombosis events occurred in five hemodialysis patients; two recurrences following primary treatment are included in the report, all of them managed with a conservative approach without catheter removal. Systemic anticoagulation (vitamin K antagonists), having a well-defined target of International Normalized Ratio of 2.5-3.0, combined with urokinase as a locking solution at the end of each hemodialysis session were the therapeutic strategy used in all patients. After the first month, the anticoagulation target was reduced to an International Normalized Ratio value of 1.5-2.0 and urokinase to a weekly administration. After sixth months, when no thrombus was identified at transthoracic echocardiographic examinations, the treatment was stopped. No bleeding complications were reported.

CONCLUSION

The combination therapy here described is safe, quick, and effective, achieving the goal of not removing catheters.

Diagnostic utility and clinical implication of late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance for detection of catheter associated right atrial thrombus

PURPOSE

To use delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) as a reference standard to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of right atrial (RA) thrombus.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, 130 cancer patients with central venous catheters undergoing CMR from August 2012-January 2018 were included. CMR (cine-CMR and DE-CMR) and echocardiography were interpreted for RA thrombus blinded to other imaging results and clinical data. RA thrombus properties including the number of discrete masses, size, total thrombus area, and perimeter were also assessed. Cine-CMR was also used to quantify cardiac structure and function as markers of RA thrombus. Student's t-test was used to assess continuous variables; chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used to assess categorical variables.

RESULTS

31/130 (24%) patients had RA thrombus on DE-CMR. Echocardiography (attained in 64% of the study population) demonstrated moderate sensitivity and specificity (75%, 90% respectively) in relation to DE-CMR; cine-CMR performance was higher (sensitivity 90%, specificity 98%). Patients with and without RA thrombus had similar right-sided structure/function and cancer diagnosis. Catheter depth approached significance in patients with RA thrombus (p = 0.05). 13% of patients with RA thrombus had concomitant pulmonary embolism within 60 days of CMR vs. 2% of patients without RA thrombus (p = 0.03). Embolic events were independent of RA thrombus size (p = 0.66).

CONCLUSION

Morphologic imaging by cine-CMR and echocardiography provide limited diagnostic utility for RA thrombus as established by DE-CMR tissue characterization. Catheter-associated RA thrombus occurs independently of right-sided structure or function and is associated with clinical embolic events and catheter depth.

Contemporary management and outcomes of infective tunnelled haemodialysis catheter-related right atrial thrombi: a case series and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Infective haemodialysis catheter-related right atrial thrombus (CRAT) is a complication of tunnelled catheter use. Management recommendations are based mainly on published case series prior to 2011. We report our institution's recent experience in managing infective haemodialysis CRAT and correlate treatment with outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of haemodialysis CRAT cases diagnosed on transthoracic echocardiography between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017. Clinical outcomes, including mortality at 180 days post diagnosis and thrombus resolution, were traced from electronic medical records.

RESULTS

There were 14 cases identified. The median age was 59 (range 47-88) years and 11 (78.6%) were male. Sepsis was the most common reason for hospitalisation (71.4%). Blood cultures identified Staphylococcus aureus in seven cases, of which two were methicillin-resistant. Three had coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. All cases received antibiotics with infectious disease physician input. Seven were treated with catheter removal alone, of which three died within 180 days. Both cases treated with catheter removal plus anticoagulation survived at 180 days. Of the two cases who had anticoagulation without catheter removal, one died within 180 days and the other did not have thrombus resolution. Three underwent surgical thrombus removal, of which two died postoperatively and the last required repeated operations and prolonged hospitalisation. Mortality at 180 days post diagnosis was 42.9%.

CONCLUSION

Catheter removal and anticoagulation are modestly effective. Surgery is associated with poor outcomes. Despite contemporary management, infective haemodialysis CRAT still results in high mortality. Prospective studies are needed to identify the optimal management.

Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis

INTRODUCTION

Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis is an under-recognized complication of central venous catheter placement. We performed a retrospective review, characterizing clinical aspects of catheter-related right atrial thrombosis (CRAT).

METHODS

To identify cases, a literature search was conducted in PubMed and additional items selected by review of related items and bibliography review. Key clinical data were extracted and analyzed both in total and as stratified by hemodialysis versus non-hemodialysis groups.

RESULTS

A total of 68 catheter-related right atrial thrombosis events were reported in 63 patients (five recurrences, of which 4 involved catheter left in place following primary treatment). Median (interquartile range) time to CRAT diagnosis was longer among hemodialysis patients - 12 (4.0-24.0) weeks compared to 5.5 (1.8-16.1) weeks among non-hemodialysis patients. The most common presentations were asymptomatic in 16/68 (23.5%), fever/sepsis in 21/68 (30.9%), pulmonary embolism in 11/68 (16.2%), catheter dysfunction in 8/68 (11.8%), dyspnea in 8/68 (11.8%), and new murmur or valvular dysfunction in 8/68 (11.8%) patients. Primary treatment selection was anticoagulation in 33/68 (48.5%), surgical thrombectomy in 17/68 (25.0%), thrombolysis in 12/68 (17.6%), or no active therapy in 6/68 (8.8%) patients. Primary treatment failure for anticoagulation and thrombolysis was 27.3% and 33.3%, respectively. The most common rescue therapy was surgical thrombectomy, ultimately resulting in an overall rate of 26/62 (41.9%). Overall, per-patient mortality was 13/63 (20.6%). Intracardiac tip position - 27/34 (79.4%) - overshadowed thrombophilia - 16/63 (25.4%) - as a risk factor for CRAT.

CONCLUSION

Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis is an underdiagnosed complication of central venous catheter placement. For the hemodialysis population, a fistula-first approach is advocated. While many instances were asymptomatic, the development of unexplained fever, dyspnea, catheter dysfunction, or new murmur should trigger a search for this complication.

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

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.