Atrial thrombosis: a near fatal complication of a Portacath.
Portacaths (Bard Medical Division, Georgia, USA) are routinely used for central venous access in patients with poor peripheral veins who require regular long-term venous access. Complications associated with central venous access devices, including infection and thrombosis, are well described in the literature; however, to our knowledge there have been few case reports of right atrial thrombi and pulmonary emboli related to implanted ports. This paper discusses the case of a patient who developed an atrial thrombosis 4 months after port placement and subsequent pulmonary emboli.
Tonkin
J L
JL
Hematology Department, Essex Rivers NHS Trust, Colchester, Essex, UK. Joanne.yonlin@essexrivers.nhs.uk
Campbell
G
G
Golding
L
L
Hamblin
M
M
Hunter
S
S
Jaggia
A
A
D000368:Aged; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003328:Coronary Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed