Background

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) are widely used in patients for the administration of chemotherapy and antimicrobial drugs, parenteral nutrition, and, recently, for blood sampling, especially for cancer patients [1,2,3]. Complications of PICCs, including accidental removal, fracture, embolization, and migration of the tip have been reported in the literature [4, 5]. The most common complication is venous thrombosis, which can result in catheter removal, treatment interruption, and life-threatening events such as pulmonary embolism [6]. Although catheter-related thrombi in the right atrium and the pulmonary artery are rarely reported [7, 8], they may lead to serious complications and even death if the migrated thrombus is not removed in time [9]. Herein, we present a case of PICC-related thrombus in the right atrium that was successfully removed surgically.

Case presentation

A 16-year-old male with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was admitted to our hospital because an echocardiographic examination revealed a ring-like structure in the right atrium that had been present for 6 months and there was no change of the ring-like structure after 6-month aspirin anti-coagulation therapy. Two years previously, the child had been diagnosed with ALL and a PICC had been placed for intravenous access during treatment in the general medical ward for chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition in a children’s hospital. The PICC remained intact and was successfully retrieved after 18 months of chemotherapy. A regular transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) examination revealed a large, mobile, ring-like mass originating from the free wall of the right atrium that measured 15 × 20 mm (Fig. 1a-b). The child was asymptomatic and the physical examination was also negative. When he presented to our hospital for a definite diagnosis, cardiac CT and radiography was performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Echocardiographic imaging of the calcified thrombus. The apical four chamber view and the parasternal short axis view clearly demonstrate the large, mobile mass (arrow) originating from the free wall of the right atrium. RA—right atrium; LA—left atrium; RV—right ventricle; LV—left ventricle; Ao—aorta

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Cardiac computed tomography revealed a calcified mass with a diameter of about 15 mm in the right atrium close to the inferior vena cava (Fig. 2a-b). Radiography confirmed the diagnosis and showed the absence of a PICC distal catheter in the right atrium and also that the mass was mobile (Fig. 3a-b). Given the large size of the mass, interventional radiology was used as part of a multidisciplinary approach to determine the optimal removal strategy. It was finally decided to remove the mass surgically.

Fig. 2
figure 2

CT showed the large calcified thrombus in the right atrium

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Fig. 3
figure 3

Radiology revealed the large, mobile calcified thrombus in the right atrium without PICC distal catheter

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The patient was operated on using cardiopulmonary bypass, with aortic and bicaval cannulation performed in the standard manner. The right atrium was opened and a large, solid, ring-like mass was found to be eroding into the orifice of the inferior vena cava (IVC) (Fig. 4a-b). After the mass was removed, it was cut open, showing a 2 mm pinhole in the middle, indicating that it had formed by initial calcification around the tip of the PICC which progressed after the retrieval of the PICC.

Fig. 4
figure 4

a Thoracotomy was performed to remove the calcified thrombus. b Photograph of the gross specimen showed a solid ring-like calcified thrombus which was removed from the right atrium

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Discussion and conclusions

PICC has become a reliable and commonly used device for long-term intravenous therapy in different sets of patients. However, PICC-related deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can result in severe cardiovascular events such as congestion of limb vein and pulmonary thrombosis. The rate of PICC-related DVT has been found to be 2.4% in all categories of patients but was higher when onco-hematologic patients was excluded [10].

Although patients with PICCs receive regular catheter care, it is inevitable that, after a period of time, PICC-related DVT may occur in some patients. Most patients with DVT are asymptomatic [11], therefore examination by medical imaging is particularly important. The detection of PICC-related DVT is mainly based on vascular ultrasonography or echocardiography, and, if necessary, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) may be used. If vascular ultrasonography or echocardiography shows a clot in a deep vein or in the right atrium, DVT often presents as a filling defect in contrast-enhanced CT [11].

Anticoagulation therapy plays a crucial role in the prophylaxis and treating of PICC-related DVT. Part of the DVT will usually resolve after several weeks of anticoagulation therapy [12], but other parts of the DVT suchas chronic right atrium thrombus and pulmonary embolism may remain unchanged. When medication is no longer effective, removal of the DVT by open heart surgery may be an effective solution. Despite the high risk of open heart surgery, it is effective for patient recovery from the consequences of PICC-related DVT. Surgical removal is an effective and safe procedure for calcified thrombus in right atrium and it is to be preferred in elective conditions especially in young asymptomatic patients without hemodynamic involvement, who are at low risk of surgery related morbidity and mortality [13, 14].

As presented in this case, the thrombus in right atrium appeared as a strong echo and high-density clot on echocardiography and CT scan respectively. The presence of these features may indicate surgical removal to resolve this type of calcified thrombus.