Diagnosis and Treatment of Intracardiac Thrombus

Analysis of factors related to thrombosis in patients with PICC placements

This study aimed to investigate the conditions of patients with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placements, analyze the risk factors influencing thrombosis in PICC-placed patients, and formulate more accurate and effective PICC management strategies. A total of 147 patients undergoing PICC placements were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data were collected, and the patients were divided into thrombosis and non-thrombosis groups. Detect levels of bilirubin, white blood cells, venous pressure, heparin concentration, blood flow, citric acid, and platelets. Pearson chi-square test, Spearman correlation analysis, as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regression were employed to analyze independent risk factors. Among the 147 patients with PICC placements, there were 84 males and 63 females. Thrombosis occurred in 116 cases, with an incidence rate of 78.91%. Pearson chi-square test showed a significant correlation between citric acid, blood flow, platelets and frailty (P < .001) with thrombosis formation. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between citric acid (ρ = -0.636, P < .001), blood flow (ρ = 0.584, P < .001), platelet count (ρ = 0.440, P < .001), frailty (ρ = -0.809, P < .001) and thrombosis in PICC placement patients. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between thrombosis formation and citric acid (OR = 0.022, 95% CI = 0.006-0.08, P < .001), blood flow (OR = 33.973, 95% CI = 9.538-121.005, P < .001), platelet count (OR = 22.065, 95% CI = 5.021-96.970, P < .001), frailty (OR = 0.003, 95% CI = 0.001-0.025, P < .001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed a significant correlation between thrombosis formation and citric acid (OR = 0.013, 95% CI = 0.002-0.086, P < .001), blood flow (OR = 35.064, 95% CI = 6.385-192.561, P < .001), platelet count (OR = 4.667, 95% CI = 0.902-24.143, P < .001), frailty (OR = 0.006, 95% CI = 0.001-0.051, P < .001). However, gender (OR = 0.544, 95% CI = 0.113-2.612, P = .447), age (OR = 4.178, 95% CI = 0.859-20.317, P = .076), bilirubin (OR = 2.594, 95% CI = 0.586-11.482, P = .209), white blood cells (OR = 0.573, 95% CI = 0.108-3.029, P = .512), venous pressure (OR = 0.559, 95% CI = 0.129-2.429, P = .438), and heparin concentration (OR = 2.660, 95% CI = 0.333-21.264, P = .356) showed no significant correlation with thrombosis formation. Patients with PICC placements have a higher risk of thrombosis, citric acid, blood flow, platelet count and frailty are the main risk factors.

Intracardiac Thrombus in COVID-19 Inpatients: A Nationwide Study of Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes

COronaVIrus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a hypercoagulable state. Intracardiac thrombosis is a potentially serious complication but has seldom been evaluated in COVID-19 patients. We assessed the incidence, associated factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with intracardiac thrombosis. In 2020, COVID-19 inpatients were identified from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Data on clinical characteristics, intracardiac thrombosis, and adverse outcomes were collected. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with intracardiac thrombosis, in-hospital mortality, and morbidities. In 2020, 1,683,785 COVID-19 inpatients (mean age 63.8 years, 32.2% females) were studied. Intracardiac thrombosis occurred in 0.10% (1830) of cases. In-hospital outcomes included 13.2% all-cause mortality, 3.5% cardiovascular mortality, 2.6% cardiac arrest, 4.4% acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 16.1% heart failure, 1.3% stroke, and 28.3% acute kidney injury (AKI). Key factors for intracardiac thrombosis were congestive heart failure history and coagulopathy. Intracardiac thrombosis independently linked to higher risks of all-cause mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 3.32 (2.42-4.54)), cardiovascular mortality (OR: 2.95 (1.96-4.44)), cardiac arrest (OR: 2.04 (1.22-3.43)), ACS (OR: 1.62 (1.17-2.22)), stroke (OR: 3.10 (2.11-4.56)), and AKI (OR: 2.13 (1.68-2.69)), but not heart failure. While rare, intracardiac thrombosis in COVID-19 patients independently raised in-hospital mortality and morbidity risks.

Managing Pulmonary Embolism With Right Ventricular Thrombus in In Vitro Fertilization-Related Pregnancy: A Clinical Insight

This case study provides an insightful examination of the management of high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) in a 27-year-old pregnant patient following in vitro fertilization (IVF). Overlapping symptoms of PE and typical pregnancy manifestations, coupled with concerns about radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging, presented unique diagnostic challenges. Despite the heightened risk of thrombosis during pregnancy and elevated D-dimer levels, a conservative approach was strategically employed. This involved therapeutic anticoagulation using low-molecular-weight heparin, leading to significant patient improvement without the need for invasive interventions. This case highlights the imperative for a judicious yet proactive approach in managing PE among pregnant patients, meticulously considering both maternal and fetal health risks.

Percutaneous Intracardiac Mass Extraction in High Surgical-Risk Patients

Large intracardiac masses including tumors, thrombi, and vegetations result in detrimental embolic or obstructive sequelae and present a management dilemma. Open heart surgery, the traditional approach, may not be an option for many patients with a prohibitive surgical risk due to multiple comorbidities. Recently, percutaneous options have emerged with reported success in extracting such intracardiac masses. A 42-year-old female with history of advanced primary sclerosing cholangitis with decompensated liver cirrhosis causing ascites and variceal bleed presented to the emergency department with fatigue, subjective fevers, chills and melena. Laboratory results revealed neutrophil-predominant leukocytosis and normocytic anemia, and blood cultures were positive for Candida albicans. Electrocardiography showed sinus tachycardia. Chest X-ray was unremarkable. She underwent packed red blood cell transfusion and esophageal banding for variceal bleeding. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed normal left ventricular ejection fraction and no wall motion abnormalities. A right atrial mobile mass measuring approximately 1.0 × 3.0 cm was noted. Multidisciplinary heart team discussion concluded that while the mass posed a high embolic risk, the patient had a prohibitive risk for surgical intervention. Successful percutaneous removal of the mass using Penumbra system device (Penumbra Incorporated, Alameda, CA) was accomplished. This case report details the procedure and outcomes, as well as presents a literature review.

Pacemaker-lead-associated thrombosis in dogs: a multicenter retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

Pacemaker implantation is the treatment of choice for clinically relevant bradyarrhythmias. Pacemaker-lead-associated thrombosis (PLAT) occurs in 23.0-45.0% of people with permanent transvenous pacemakers. Serious thromboembolic complications are reported in 0.6-3.5%. The incidence of PLAT in dogs is unknown.

ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS

multicenter retrospective study of seven centers with 606 client-owned dogs undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation between 2012 and 2019. 260 dogs with a transvenous pacemaker with echocardiographic follow-up, 268 dogs with a transvenous pacemaker without echocardiographic follow-up and 78 dogs with an epicardial pacemaker.

RESULTS

10.4% (27/260) of dogs with transvenous pacemakers and echocardiographic follow-up had PLAT identified. The median time to diagnosis was 175 days (6-1853 days). Pacemaker-lead-associated thrombosis was an incidental finding in 15/27 (55.6%) dogs. Of dogs with a urine protein:creatinine ratio measured at pacemaker implantation, dogs with PLAT were more likely to have proteinuria at pacemaker implantation vs. dogs without PLAT (6/6 (100.0%) vs. 21/52 (40.4%), P=0.007). Urine protein:creatinine ratio was measured in 12/27 (44.4%) dogs at PLAT diagnosis, with proteinuria identified in 10/12 (83.3%) dogs. Anti-thrombotic drugs were used following the identification of PLAT in 22/27 (81.5%) dogs. The thrombus resolved in 9/15 (60.0%) dogs in which follow-up echocardiography was performed. Dogs with PLAT had shorter survival times from implantation compared to those without PLAT (677 days [9-1988 days] vs. 1105 days [1-2661 days], P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Pacemaker-lead-associated thrombosis is identified in 10.4% (27/260) of dogs following transvenous pacing, is associated with proteinuria, can cause significant morbidity, and is associated with reduced survival times.

Intracardiac thrombosis after congenital heart disease surgeries in neonates: a report of two cases

BACKGROUND

Intracardiac thrombosis (ICT) is a rare complication after the cardiopulmonary surgery for interrupted aortic arch (IAA) or total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) without previous records. There are still no general guidelines regarding as the mechanism or management of postoperative ICT in neonates and younger infants.

CASE PRESENTATION

We reported the conservative and surgical therapies in two neonates with intra-ventricular and intra-atrial thrombosis after the anatomical repair for IAA and TAPVC, respectively. There were no risk factors for ICT in both patients, except for the use of blood product and prothrombin complex concentrate. The surgery was indicated after TAPVC correction due to the worsening respiratory status and rapidly decreased mixed venous saturation. Anticoagulation combined with antiplatelet therapies was adopted in another patient. These two were both finally recovered, and three-month, six-month, and one-year follow-up echocardiography revealed no abnormality.

CONCLUSIONS

ICT is uncommon in pediatric population after the surgery for congenital heart disease. Single ventricle palliation, heart transplantation, longer central line use, post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and massive blood product use are major risk factors for postcardiotomy thrombosis. The causes of postoperative ICT are multifactorial, and the immaturity of thrombolytic and fibrinolytic system in neonates may serve as a prothrombotic factor. However, no consensus reached regarding as the therapies for postoperative ICT, and the large-scale prospective cohort study or randomized clinical trial is needed.

Embolic Cerebrovascular Accident Secondary to Device-Related Thrombus Post WATCHMAN Device Implantation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias encountered. Aggressive and appropriate management, along with identification and modification of risk factors, remains at the forefront of evidence-based practice. Thrombus formation (primarily in the left atrial appendage) and consequent thromboembolism are risks associated with AF. Anticoagulation is utilized to prevent and reduce AF-induced complications such as stroke, heart failure, and death. However, in instances when the risk of bleeding from anticoagulation outweighs the benefits of stroke prevention, other modalities such as left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) devices like the WATCHMAN device (Boston Scientific, MA) are utilized. LAAC devices, such as the WATCHMAN device, are also not without significant risks, one of them being device-related thrombus (DRT) formation. We present a case of device-related thrombus formation post WATCHMAN implantation and a subsequent embolic cerebrovascular accident (CVA).