Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic Challenge

Abstract Introduction Left atrial thrombus is a rare finding in a neonate. In the previous literature, atrial thrombi have been associated with catheter placement or congenital heart disease in a preterm infant. Case We report the case of a full-term neonate with no known r...

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Main Authors: Alicia Sheen, Elizabeth R. De Oliveira, Richard W. Kim, David Parham, Ashwini Lakshmanan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 2015-01-01
Series:American Journal of Perinatology Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0034-1396567
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author Alicia Sheen
Elizabeth R. De Oliveira
Richard W. Kim
David Parham
Ashwini Lakshmanan
author_facet Alicia Sheen
Elizabeth R. De Oliveira
Richard W. Kim
David Parham
Ashwini Lakshmanan
author_sort Alicia Sheen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Left atrial thrombus is a rare finding in a neonate. In the previous literature, atrial thrombi have been associated with catheter placement or congenital heart disease in a preterm infant. Case We report the case of a full-term neonate with no known risk factors found to have a left atrial thrombus. The neonate was born at 38 weeks' gestation to a 31-year-old female via cesarean section who was sent to the normal nursery. On postnatal day 5, the infant was noted to have low-to-medium level of oxygen saturations (∼90%) and was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit with an echocardiogram completed on postnatal day 6 demonstrating a mobile, pedunculated mass attached to the left atrial septum with an appearance concerning for atrial myxoma. The infant underwent surgical resection on postnatal day 8 and pathology revealed the mass to be a left atrial thrombus. Discussion The rare finding of an atrial thrombus in a neonate has previously been associated with central venous catheter placement or congenital heart disease. This case is unusual in that the patient had neither condition. Although echocardiogram findings appeared more consistent with atrial myxoma, final pathology revealed a left atrial thrombus. Additionally, hypercoagulability work-up for this neonate was largely negative. This report underscores the importance of identification, search for etiology, and prompt therapy to prevent potential catastrophic outcomes.
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spelling doaj.art-ca111227fb0a401eba3abec084a1f6f22022-12-21T19:56:05ZengThieme Medical Publishers, Inc.American Journal of Perinatology Reports2157-69982157-70052015-01-010501e18e2110.1055/s-0034-1396567Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic ChallengeAlicia Sheen0Elizabeth R. De Oliveira1Richard W. Kim2David Parham3Ashwini Lakshmanan4Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CaliforniaPacific Pediatric Cardiology Medical Group, Inc., Los Angeles, CaliforniaDivision of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CaliforniaDivision of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CaliforniaDivision of Newborn and Infant Critical Care, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CaliforniaAbstract Introduction Left atrial thrombus is a rare finding in a neonate. In the previous literature, atrial thrombi have been associated with catheter placement or congenital heart disease in a preterm infant. Case We report the case of a full-term neonate with no known risk factors found to have a left atrial thrombus. The neonate was born at 38 weeks' gestation to a 31-year-old female via cesarean section who was sent to the normal nursery. On postnatal day 5, the infant was noted to have low-to-medium level of oxygen saturations (∼90%) and was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit with an echocardiogram completed on postnatal day 6 demonstrating a mobile, pedunculated mass attached to the left atrial septum with an appearance concerning for atrial myxoma. The infant underwent surgical resection on postnatal day 8 and pathology revealed the mass to be a left atrial thrombus. Discussion The rare finding of an atrial thrombus in a neonate has previously been associated with central venous catheter placement or congenital heart disease. This case is unusual in that the patient had neither condition. Although echocardiogram findings appeared more consistent with atrial myxoma, final pathology revealed a left atrial thrombus. Additionally, hypercoagulability work-up for this neonate was largely negative. This report underscores the importance of identification, search for etiology, and prompt therapy to prevent potential catastrophic outcomes.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0034-1396567atrial thrombusneonateinfantthrombus resectionheparin
spellingShingle Alicia Sheen
Elizabeth R. De Oliveira
Richard W. Kim
David Parham
Ashwini Lakshmanan
Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic Challenge
American Journal of Perinatology Reports
atrial thrombus
neonate
infant
thrombus resection
heparin
title Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic Challenge
title_full Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic Challenge
title_fullStr Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic Challenge
title_full_unstemmed Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic Challenge
title_short Atrial Thrombus in a Neonate: A Diagnostic Challenge
title_sort atrial thrombus in a neonate a diagnostic challenge
topic atrial thrombus
neonate
infant
thrombus resection
heparin
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0034-1396567
work_keys_str_mv AT aliciasheen atrialthrombusinaneonateadiagnosticchallenge
AT elizabethrdeoliveira atrialthrombusinaneonateadiagnosticchallenge
AT richardwkim atrialthrombusinaneonateadiagnosticchallenge
AT davidparham atrialthrombusinaneonateadiagnosticchallenge
AT ashwinilakshmanan atrialthrombusinaneonateadiagnosticchallenge