Bland Thrombosis and Infection in Relation to Intracardiac Catheter

I NTRAVASCULAR catheters exhibit tendencies to become covered with thrombotic material' 3 and to cause intimal erosion with secondary mural thrombosis of the vessel containing the catheter. The incidence of these phenomena has a direct relationship to the amount of time that the catheter is in place. Thrombosis on the surface of the catheter or on the vascular intima set the stage for further complications in the form of vascular obstruction,' embolism, infection,4 6 and fibrous encasement of the catheter. This report and a companion article to follow illustrate some of the complications that may follow the long-term presence of catheters or catheter electrodes in the right side of the heart. In this communication are presented exam'ples of (1) erosion with secondary bland mural thrombosis of the superior vena cava and (2) infection of the superior vena cava or mural endocardium of the right atrium and nearby structures in patients harboring indwelling catheters.