Right atrial thrombi complicating use of central venous catheters in hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: There has been an increase in the use of central venous catheters for temporary hemodialysis access. In this report, we describe a case series of 12 patients on hemodialysis who developed intracardiac clots associated with the use of central venous catheters, their outcomes and review the literature on this syndrome. METHODS: Retrospective, single-center case series of 12 patients with right atrial thrombi associated with central venous catheter use for dialysis vascular access. These patients were treated between June 1, 2001 and June 30th 2002 at the three University of Rochester affiliated dialysis clinics. The medical records of these patients were reviewed to obtain information concerning demographics, dialysis history, dates of catheter insertion, catheter complications, identification and dimensions of intracardiac thrombi, echocardiographic data, and outcome of anticoagulant therapy. RESULTS: Right heart thrombi were identified in 12 patients in our hemodialysis population over the study interval. Anticoagulation for 6 months led to clot resolution in more than 50% of our patients. Bacteremia recurred in 6 patients (50%), in spite of catheter replacement. There was zero mortality related to presence of clots in the short term. One patient with non-bacteremic right atrial thrombus suffered sudden cardiac arrest, but was successfully resuscitated. CONCLUSION: Right atrial thrombi may occur in hemodialysis patients who use central venous catheters for dialysis access. These clots are frequently found in the right atrium or right atrial-superior vena caval junction. Ten of 12 patients (83%), had catheter-associated bacteremia, but the precise relationship between bacteremia and intracardiac clots is unclear. Chronic anticoagulation for 6 months lead to resolution of these clots in more than 50% of patients in our series.