Inferior vena caval and right atrial thrombus complicating amoebic liver abscess

Mansoor Siddiqui1, Anubhav Gupta, Aamir Kazmi

  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Insights

Right atrial thrombectomy successfully removed a thrombus in a pediatric patient with amoebic liver abscess. This life-saving surgery prevented serious complications like pulmonary embolism.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Amoebic liver abscess can lead to serious complications, including thrombus formation in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium (RA).
  • Thrombus extension into the right atrium poses a significant risk of pulmonary embolism and Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Observation:

  • A 2-year-old boy with an amoebic liver abscess developed an IVC thrombus extending into the RA.
  • The patient underwent surgical thrombectomy of the right atrial and IVC thrombus under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Findings:

  • The surgical intervention was successful, with complete removal of the thrombus.
  • The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative recovery with rapid convalescence and abscess resolution.
  • No recurrence of thrombosis or embolic events was observed during follow-up.

Implications:

  • Aggressive surgical management, including right atrial thrombectomy, is crucial for life-saving intervention in pediatric cases with extensive thrombus.
  • This approach is vital for preventing potentially fatal outcomes associated with pulmonary embolism or Budd-Chiari syndrome.
  • Effective postoperative care, including antibiotics and anticoagulation, ensures favorable long-term results.

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