Right atrial thrombus due to internal jugular vein catheter

Abstract

Right atrial thrombus is rare complication of hemodialysis central venous catheter. Literature survey revealed 49 documentations of right atrial thrombus due to a central venous catheter. We report a 58-year-old type 2 diabetic, hypertensive, end-stage renal disease patient, who 2 months after initiation of hemodialysis through a right internal jugular vein catheter, developed clinical features suggestive of pulmonary thromboembolism. An echocardiography revealed presence of a serpentine thrombus in right atrium. The internal jugular vein catheter was removed and unfractionated heparin was initiated. At the end of 6 weeks he was symptom free. We compared conservative treatment with surgery for RAT. Conservative management with central venous catheter removal and anticoagulation therapy is not inferior to the surgery.