A rare complication following internal jugular vein catheterization to malposition: acute Budd Chiari syndrome

The incidence of end stage renal disease (ESRD), which is one of the important health problems of worldwide, is gradually increasing and one of the treatment options is hemodialysis. Hemodialysis requires effective vascular access routes with a blood flow of at least 350 mL/min [1‐3]. It has been suggested that the first choice for vascular access is arteriovenous fistula (AVF), but tunneled catheters can be used as an alternative to AVF in patients with limited health expectancy, comorbidities and vascular access problems according to Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines [4].

Infection, internal jugular vein (IJV) stenosis and thrombosis are also common complications of permanent intrajugular hemodialysis catheterization [5]. Despite all complications, usage of dialysis catheter is still very common in this cohort according to the annual report of the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), approximately 63% of patients used a catheter for vascular access for the first dialysis treatment in the USA [6]. Another important complication such as catheter malposition ratio was between 3.6–14% in small and medium-sized studies in the literature. However, catheter malposition is rare in right IJV catheterization [7, 8].

Additionally, all complications related to IJV (infection, hematoma, malposition) were found to have a lower rate in the literature [9‐11].

Budd-Chiari syndrome is caused by partial/complete hepatic venous perfusion obstruction at any localization of hepatic vein, inferior vena cava or right atrium level. As a result, liver venous obstruction occurs due to increased hepatic sinusoidal pressure, which leads to portal hypertension and decreased liver perfusion. Patients can usually apply with ascites, abdominal swelling and pain. This process may eventually progress to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis [12, 13].

In this case report, we aimed to present a patient with venous stenosis related- reversible acute Budd-Chiari syndrome after catheter malposition.

A 36-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department of our university hospital with sudden onset of nausea, fever, chills and worsening general condition.

He had been diagnosed with familial mediterranean fever 10 years ago and renal biopsy was resulted with AA amyloidosis. After uremic symptoms, hemodialysis was started 3 days a week by transjugular catheter 5 months ago. Because of catheter malfunction, his catheter was replaced in the another medical center. Ten days after catheter malposition, his complaints started. On admission, the patient was good, conscious and orientated and his fever was: 38.5 °C, pulse: 104 beats/minute, respiratory rate: 26/min, blood pressure: 100/50 mmHg. During physical examination, distension, right flank pain and venous collateral development was observed in the patient’s abdomen. Laboratory studies revealed that blood urea nitrogen: 59 (6–20) mg/dl, creatinine: 4.4 (0.5–1.2) mg /dl, sodium: 137 (136–145) mmol /l, potassium: 3,9 (3.5–5.1) mmol/l, Total bilirubin: 1.1 (0–1.4) mg/dl, direct bilirubin: 1.0 (0–0.3) mg/dl, Total protein: 5.1 (6.4–8.3) gr/dL, albumin: 2.4 (3.5–5.2) gr/dl, alkaline phosphatase: 99 (44–130) u / L, − lactate dehydrogenase: 327 (135–250) u/L, aspartate aminotransferase: 142 (0–40) u/L, alanine aminotransferase: 453 (0–41) u /L, gamma glutamyl transferase:: 256, (10–71) u /L, C reactive protein: 174 (0–5) mg /L, procalcitonin: 100 (0–0.5) ng /dl, Hemoglobin: 9.5 (12–16) g /dl, platelet: 65000 (130–400) μ /L, white blood cell: 11 × 10⁹ (4.8–10.7)(10⁹)/liter, d dimer: 4220(0–500) ug/L. In the axial contrast enhanced venous phase CT image, a hypodense thrombus was observed in which the distal end of the catheter is at the level of drainage of the hepatic veins into the vena cava inferior and that blocked hepatic vein drainage around the catheter. Additionally, mosaic contrast pattern and perihepatic fluid is seen on computed tomography (CT) (optima CT 540, GE, USA) image (Fig. 1). Thrombus around the catheter was also confirmed by Doppler US (GE Logiq Pg medical System (GE, Healthcare,Chicago,IL,USA))examination.

The sagittal reformat, in which the distal tip of the catheter was inferior to the vena cava, was also observed in the CT image (Fig. 2) The patient’s diagnosis was accepted Acute Budd Chiari syndrome developed as a result of catheter malposition. Heparin and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy (Vankomycin/meropenem) were administered for the patient immediately. The catheter was removed and a new catheter was inserted in the same session. A few days after this procedure, symptoms of liver failure regressed (Table 1). Because patient’s general condition was good and without fever, he was discharged with advices on the 9th day of hospitalization.

Tunneled dialysis catheter is still very common in patients with ESRD according to the annual report of the USRDS, it has been reported that it is still most widely used vascular access for the dialysis treatment in the USA [6].

Catheter malposition generally may be related to methodological insufficiency, anatomical variation and operator experience. As a result of these reasons, catheter thrombosis, vascular injury and vascular perforation may ocur in patients [14‐19].

Compared to other catheter localizations, all complications associated with the IJV (infection, hematoma, malposition) have 2–5 times less complication rate [10, 11]. Traumatic complications associated with IJV catheter insertion have been well described in the literature, such as Horner’s syndrome (a decreased pupil size, a drooping eyelid and decreased sweating on the affected side of your face with miosis, ptosis and enophthalmos), venous perforation, pneumothorax, and cardiac tamponade [20‐23].

Generally, catheter related complications are divided into two as acute and chronic. In one study, hematoma, hemothorax and the lowest rate of catheter malposition were observed among acute complications [10].

After catheter malposition, development of stenosis may occur and the central veins and subsequent obstructive symptoms begin. Diagnosis is usually revealed by imaging such as X-ray, Doppler ultrasonography, CT and angiography. In a 1613 series study by Pickver et al., the malposition rate was found to be 3.3%. In another study, catheter malposition rate was found to be 8.79% of all catheterizations. In a study in which 3213 patients were studied by Napalkov et al., the rate of catheter thrombosis was found to be 0.80% [9, 24].

Budd-Chiari syndrome refers to hepatomegaly that develops as a result of venous thrombotic events, ascites, abdominal swelling and pain. This syndrome is also caused by partial or complete hepatic venous outlet obstruction at either hepatic vein, inferior vena cava (IVC) or right atrium level. In any imaging, enlargement of the caudate lobe, irregularities of the liver contour, intrahepatic collaterals and hypervascular nodules are observed in this syndrome. Etiopathological factors for Budd-Chiari syndrome include various systemic thrombotic and non-thrombotic conditions that can cause venous outflow obstruction in hepatic veins and/or IVC Typically, hypoattenuation echogenicity increases in the central region of the liver due to vascular thrombosis, decrease in periphery [13]. Its main treatment is removal of obstruction, anticoagulant therapy, elimination of the underlying condition and liver transplantation may be required in severe cases [25].

FMF is an autoinflammatory disease and may cause vascular endothelial damage. It has been shown that FMF may predispose to thrombosis with different mechanisms in the literature [26, 27]. In our case, FMF may have contributed catheter induced-thrombosis.

In conclusion, although catheter malposition and thrombosis are not a common complication, it is also important to use imaging methods after the catheterization procedure since they cause serious morbidity and mortality. Therefore, imaging methods should be used during the catheterization process and it should be checked whether it is in appropriate localization after the procedure.