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Review
. 2023 Feb 17;13(4):764.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13040764.

Intracardiac Thrombi in Preterm Infants-A Case Study and Review of the Literature

Ayala Gover  1   2 , Dawod Sharif  2   3 , Liat Yaniv  2   3 , Arieh Riskin  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Intracardiac Thrombi in Preterm Infants-A Case Study and Review of the Literature

Ayala Gover et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

Intracardiac thrombi in preterm infants are not common but may lead to fatal outcomes. Predisposing and risk factors include small vessel size, hemodynamic instability, immaturity of the fibrinolytic system, indwelling central catheters and sepsis. In this paper, we present our own experience with a case of a catheter-related right atrial thrombus in a preterm infant, which was successfully treated with an aspiration thrombectomy. Then, we review the literature on intracardiac thrombosis in preterm infants: epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical signs, echocardiographic diagnostic features and treatment options are discussed.

Keywords: intra-atrial thrombus; intracardiac thrombus; preterm; thrombectomy; thrombolysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Parasternal short axis view and schematic drawing of the thrombus. (a) Short axis view showing the thrombus in the right atrium extending from the fossa ovalis and protruding to the inflow of the right ventricle; (b) schematic drawing of the echocardiographic view. Ao, aortic valve; MPA, main pulmonary artery; LA, left atrium; RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; TV, tricuspid valve; UVC, umbilical venous catheter.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The umbilical venous catheter in the right atrium.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The aspirated thrombus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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