Internal jugular vein haemodialysis catheter-induced right atrium endocarditis - Case report and review of the literature

We present a case of right-sided endocarditis as a life-threatening complic ation of having a jugular vein haemodialysis catheter inadvertently placed in the right atrium. The mechanisms of direct traumatization of the endocar dium by the catheter tip and continuous inoculation of bacteria onto the en docardial surface make dual lumen catheter-induced endocarditis similar to the pathophysiology of experimental endocarditis in animals. Therefore, the catheter tip should be placed in the distal superior vena cava during cann ulation. Once endocarditis is present, removal of catheters and a 4-6-week course of intravenous antibiotics guided by the sensitivity test are recomm ended.