Pulmonary artery thrombus in a premature neonate treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator

Occlusive Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis in a Healthy Neonate With No Identifiable Risk Factors

Pulmonary artery thrombosis is reported in neonates with risk factors for hypercoagulability. No consensus exists regarding standard therapy for this condition. We present a neonate, with no risk factors for thrombosis, who was admitted after birth to the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit with an occlusive left pulmonary artery thrombus. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Spontaneous pulmonary artery thrombus in a neonate

Background

Pulmonary artery thrombosis is rare in neonates and mimics as persistent pulmonary hypertension or congenital heart disease. Risk factors include septicemia, dehydration, polycythemia, maternal diabetes, asphyxia, and inherited thrombophilias. They present with cyanosis and respiratory distress. Careful echocardiogram assessment helps in identifying the thrombus in the pulmonary artery and its branches. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography confirms the diagnosis.

Case presentation

We present a case of term neonate who presented with respiratory distress and cyanosis and a detailed echocardiogram revealed thrombus in the origin of left pulmonary artery. The neonate was managed initially with unfractionated heparin and later with low molecular weight heparin with which there was significant resolution of the thrombus

Conclusion

Spontaneous pulmonary artery thrombosis though rare should be suspected in any cyanotic neonate with respiratory distress. Management in these cases depends on the haemodynamic instability and lung ischemia.

Dehydration as a Rare Cause of Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis in a 2-Week-Old Term Neonate

Pulmonary arterial thrombosis is an extremely rare occurrence in the neonatal population. We describe a 2-week-old female neonate who presented in critical condition with severe cyanosis and dehydration and was found to have a large thrombus in the main branches of the pulmonary arteries. She was successfully treated with surgical embolectomy. Pulmonary arterial thrombosis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of a dehydrated neonate presenting with severe cyanosis and evidence of pulmonary hypertension.

A Previously Healthy Premature Infant Treated With Thrombolytic Therapy for Life-threatening Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis

Pulmonary artery thrombosis is rarely reported in preterm neonates. Although treatment of neonatal thrombosis remains controversial, thrombolytic agents must be considered when the thrombosis is life threatening. We herein present a case of a preterm newborn with pulmonary artery thrombosis accompanied by acute-onset respiratory failure and cyanotic congenital heart disease. The thrombosis was successfully treated using tissue plasminogen activator. In conclusion, the thrombolytic therapy should be considered in treatment of patients in whom the thrombosis completely occludes the pulmonary arteries.