Right atrial thrombus formation following central venous dialysis catheter placement

Silicone rubber central venous dialysis catheters are used to provide vascular access in acute renal failure patients and in chronic dialysis patients in whom conventional vascular access cannot be achieved or maintained. The use of these catheters is not without hazard. The first reported case of right atrial thrombus formation associated with the use of a double lumen silicone rubber central hemodialysis catheter is described. This patient's course points out another potential complication of this type of vascular access and emphasizes the importance of removing such catheters in a timely fashion when they are no longer required for dialysis.