Catheter- related right atrial thrombosis in haemodialysis patients: a study of internal jugular and subclavian venous approaches

ABSTRACT

Right atrial thrombosis is an under diagnosed condition that may occur as a complication of central venous cannulation when adopted temporarily in haemodialysis patients. It can have serious potentially life-threatening complications that include systemic sepsis and pulmonary embolism. The diagnosis often is challenging and requires, first and foremost, a high degree of clinical suspicion. The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of transthoracicechocardiography [TTE] in diagnosis of cardiac complications namely right atrial thrombosis and infection by. In this study, TEE was done for 100 of chronic haemodialysis patients with temporary central venous haemodialysis catheters aiming at detection of cardiac complications mainly, right atrial thrombosis and infection. Incidence of right atrial thrombosis was 1 patient [1.9% with internal jugular [IJV]catheters] and 2 patients 4.1% with subclavian[SCV] catheters one week after catheter placement. 1 patient [1.9%] for group I, 3 patients [6.3%] for group II one month after catheter placement. Also, it was more prevalent with the presence of catheters tips in right atrium and development of catheter infection. TEE is one of the valuable tools in the diagnosis of intravenous catheter complications research should focus on defining the precise incidence of thrombosis with central venous cannulation .Priority should be given to internal jugular vein cannulation