Right atrial thrombus associated with subclavian catheter developed due to total parenteral nutrition application

Introduction

Central venous catheters (CVC) are widely used in clinical practice for total parenteral nutrition along with other functions, such as central venous pressure monitoring, fluid and blood transfusion, medication and hemodialysis. Infectious, mechanic and thrombotic complications can be seen related to the catheter. Central venous catheter thrombosis is one of the most serious, life-threatening, and costly complications [1].
Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy (MNGIE) is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem genetic disease related to the mutation of the thymidine phosphorylase gene. Clinical status is characterized by severe gastrointestinal dysmotility and includes cachexia, ptosis, external ophthalmoplegia, peripheral neuropathy and leukoencephalopathy. Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalopathy should be kept in mind for all patients presenting with both digestive and nervous system involvement, even though it lacks a classic phenotype [2, 3].
In this case report, we present a patient with a diagnosis of CVC related thrombus who required open-heart surgery. The patient was diagnosed with rarely seen MNGIE and could not tolerate oral nutrition because of the operation. Therefore, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was required.

Case report

A twenty-one-year-old male patient (40 kg and 190 cm) was diagnosed with MNGIE in 2009 after being evaluated in the neurology clinic with energy loss, foot-drop, difficulty swallowing, and weight loss. In 2011, TPN was initiated through central venous catheterization (CVC) because he had undergone duodenojejunostomy operation due to superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome which is a rare condition, results in compression of the third portion of the duodenum by a narrow-angled SMA against the aorta and could not tolerate enteral nutrition postoperatively. Central venous catheterization was changed 4 times due to thrombosis or infection, and the last catheterization was implemented on 19 November 2012. The catheter was inserted in our hospital radiology intervention room under sterile conditions by an interventional radiology team. The catheter was not heparin coated, 14.5 French diameter and 28 cm long, extending from the left pectoral area to the right atrium. The composition of the parenteral solution was lipid 20%, aminoacides 10% and glucose 40%, 1800 kcal/day and 1500 cc/day were used.
However, the patient was admitted to our hospital again one month later with fever and palpitation complaints. Upon physical examination, his body temperature was 38.5º, blood pressure was 120/77 mmHg, pulse was 157 beats/min, and sedimentation and CRP values were elevated. Because of the growth of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the patient’s blood cultures obtained from the catheter lumen and simultaneously from a peripheral vein, his fever was linked to catheter-related infection, and it was decided to remove the catheter. In the echocardiography performed before the removal of the catheter, the view of the catheter inside the right atrium (RA) and 35 x 15 mm sized echogenicity at its end which is protruded to the right ventricle during diastole and evaluated as a mobile thrombus was visualized. After 6 days of heparin and antibiotic treatment, no difference was detected in the size of the thrombus in echocardiography. Our patient’s prothrombin time (12.9 second), international normalized ratio INR (1.1) and platelet count (380.000/mm3) were evaluated preoperatively, all these values were within normal limits.
The patient was subsequently taken to open heart surgery and was monitored by ECG, SpO2 and invasive arterial catheterization. Systemic arterial pressure was recorded as 120/80 mmHg, heart rate at 130/min, and SpO2 at 97%. Upon induction of anesthesia, intubation was performed with 0.1 mg/kg midazolam, 3 mg/kg thiopental, 4 µg/kg fentanyl and 1 mg/kg rocuronium. Central venous catheterization was implemented to the right femoral vein following intubation. Extracorporeal circulation was started in the patient by implementation of cannula to the ascending aorta and vena cava inferior. The thrombus, seen at the catheter ending inside the right atrium, was removed by cutting (Fig. 1, 2 and 3). The patient’s hemodynamic and neurologic signs were stable during the operation. Extracorporeal circulation was 40 minutes, the whole operation was 150 minutes. At the beginning of the operation our patient’s hemoglobin value was 10.9 g/dl. During the operation this value decreased to 7.1 g/dl, therefore blood transfusion was performed and 1 U (red blood cell) RBC and 2 U fresh frozen plasma (FFP) were given during pumping. The patient was moved to the intensive care unit, extubated 5 hours after the operation, and transported to the Cardiovascular Surgery Department on the 3rd day. A catheter culture that was sent during the operation was sterile, and the pathology report was consistent with infected thrombus. The patient refused the insertion of a permanent catheter again and was discharged with the recommendation of the gastroenterology clinic for enteral nutrition and supportive peripheral nutrition upon regression of sedimentation and CRP values.

Discussion

Catheter thrombosis is one of the most significant complications related to central venous catheterization. Venous thrombosis may deteriorate the venous return and may lead to pulmonary thromboembolism [4]. One of the most common late complications following central venous catheterization is the development of infection in blood circulation; bacteremia and fungemia are seen in about 5% of patients [5, 6]. In our patient, both thrombus and infection developed together, and the infected thrombus was treated only by removal, surgically.
Catheter-related infections can be classified in 3 groups: 1) colonization of the catheter; 2) blood circulation infections related with catheter and 3) infections of the catheter insertion site. Generally, in the presence of a clinical finding of catheter-related infections, removal of the catheter, taking a culture from its end, and antibiotic treatment is recommended. Catheter removal has the potential to cause pulmonary embolism when the thrombus is present at the end of the catheter [7]. In our case, if catheter removal had been performed, there would have been a risk of pulmonary septic embolism. In order to prevent this risk, the infected thrombus was removed by open heart surgery, visualizing it from the right atrium without allowing it to decompose or embolize.
Catheter-related thrombosis is one of the chief complications of central venous catheterization and total parenteral nutrition. Its clinical importance is not fully understood. In the development of catheter-related thrombosis, underlying disease, the tendency of the patient for thrombosis, the characteristics of fluids in the catheter, and the place and time of the vessel the catheter is inserted into all play a role. Thrombosis develops less often when the catheter is inserted into the subclavian vein. It is known that lipid emulsions, used for parenteral nutrition, predispose a patient to catheter-related thrombosis. Overly acidic or alkaline pH values of the fluids increase the tendency for thrombosis [8-10]. We suggest that the use of lipid emulsions for parenteral nutrition played a role in the development of thrombosis in our patient.
Catheter-related thrombosis leads to partial or total occlusion, and in total occlusion, supplying liquid or taking blood from the catheter would not be possible. The thrombus that leads up to venous occlusion may cause pain, swelling and apparent collateral veins. There were no mechanical obstruction symptoms detected in our patient. In literature, most catheter thrombosis cases are reported as asymptomatic [7, 11-13]. The thrombus in our case was characterized by advancing from the catheter tip into the right atrium; however, it was not blocking blood flow in the tricuspid valve. Obstruction symptoms did not develop, since it did not block the blood flow from the superior vena cava. For this reason, we think that the thrombus remained asymptomatic until it was infected. In an autopsy study, fibrous sheath wrapping the tip of long-term central venous catheters were reported [14]. This fibrin sheath is not reported to affect catheter functions but may produce partial obstruction. These fibrin sheaths are not reported to create clinical signs [15].
It could be suggested in our case that the fibrin sheath that developed at the tip of the catheter grew gradually, reached a thrombotic structure, and prepared the way for infection. Some type of bacteria leads to the formation of an infection in a thrombotic environment. Microbiologic studies demonstrate that some Staphylococcus species adhere easily to the proteins in a thrombus such as fibrinogen and fibronectin, and the thrombus facilitates the infection with these bacteria [16]. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in our case supports this observation. There is not anything published heretofore linking the diagnosis of MNGIE in a patient leading to tendency for thrombosis. On the other hand, when considering the underlying primary disease, intestinal problems, cachexia and long-term CVC application because of TPN need, it is commonly seen in people with MNGIE syndrome. The fact that should be kept in mind of clinicians who follow these patients is that it can predispose a patient to catheter-related thrombus, even infective endocarditis. However, pre-diagnosis of these types of catheter thrombosis is not easy. Venography and ultrasonography are used for catheter-related diagnosis. Although ultrasonography is a convenient method for jugular veins, its usage is limited for subclavian veins because of the effects of the clavicle, sternum and lungs on ultrasonography waves. Because venogra-phy is an invasive method, it is rarely used [17, 18]. In our case, the thrombus extended through the right atrium on the tip of the catheter and was visualized with echocardiography. We think that echocardiography is the primary method to use for the evaluation of catheter-related thrombi in the subclavian vein.
Consequently, our case was diagnosed as MNGIE. The infected thrombus developed due to long-term central venous catheterization for continuous TPN and was successfully treated, without complication, by cardiac surgery. Based on this case, we think that before removing an infected catheter, the probability of the presence of fibrin and infected thrombus (that has not led to obstruction) at the tip of the catheter should be evaluated, and in the presence of a large infected thrombus, the mass should be removed surgically.

Disclosure

Authors report no conflict of interest.

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