Surgical treatment of central venous catheter related septic deep venous thrombosis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of catheter related central venous thrombosis and whether a surgical approach can be an effective treatment modality in selected cases that are refractory to conservative management.

This was a retrospective review of the 46 consecutive patients who were suspected of having central venous catheter related infected deep venous thrombosis and who met the eligibility criteria.

Conservative management achieved clinical improvement in 26 (56.5%) patients and failed in 20 (43.5%), of whom surgical thrombectomy was performed in 13. The remaining seven patients died before surgery could be performed or their clinical condition was too poor. Apart from one case of wound hematoma (7.7%), post-operative complications that related to the surgical procedure were not observed. Patency of the involved vein was re-established in 12 of the 13 (92.3%) surgically treated patients, and clinical improvement was achieved in 11 (84.6%). In particular, the five patients whose blood cultures revealed Candida species exhibited prompt defervescence after surgical thrombectomy.

Although conservative management is the first therapy of choice in patients with central venous catheter related infected thrombosis, surgical treatment that removes the septic material can be regarded as a last resort in critically ill patients with septic thrombophlebitis that is refractory to conservative management.