Frequent Autopsy Findings in Patients With Caval Catheters

Abstract

In the autoptic evaluation of anatomic findings in patients with caval catheters we are struck by complicating conditions that must be regarded as consequences of catheterization. They are mainly sequelae of thrombosis and infection. Relatively harmless are the very common precipitation thromboses which envelop the catheter (Fig. 51), more rarely one finds thrombotic changes on the tricuspid valve and on the tip of the cavel catheter in the region of the right ventricle. These two localizations indicate the dangers of wrong catheter positions in the heart. The pathogenesis of this thrombus formation is still largely uncertain. We have learned in atherosclerosis that collagen released in the area of an atheromatous ulcer causes aggregation of the platelets, whereby ADP is liberated from the aggregated thrombocytes and again causes more platelets to aggregate.