Abstract
A 9-year-old boy was admitted to our pediatric intensive care unit after multiple trauma. On the 17th day post trauma, he developed catheter-related sepsis with candidemia. After removal of the catheter and 6 days of unsuccessful intravenous antifungal therapy, conventional and transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography was performed revealing a large right atrial thrombus. Surgical thrombectomy under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed and the patient recovered within a few days. Fungal right atrial thrombus is a rare, lifethreatening complication of central venous catheterization. Two-dimensional echocardiography is a simple and effective diagnostic technique that should be performed when candidemia is detected. The proper therapeutic response depends on the findings of this examination. For a symptomatic patient with a large, mobile thrombus, we strongly recommend thrombectomy. Surgery not only allows removal of the mass and thus elimination of the mechanical complication but is also a key to management of infection.
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Paut, O., Kreitmann, B., Silicani, M.A. et al. Successful treatment of fungal right atrial thrombosis complicating central venous catheterization in a critically ill child. Intensive Care Med 18, 375–376 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01694370
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01694370