# A Rare Case of a Right Atrial Thrombus

## TL;DR

This paper presents a rare case of a right atrial thrombus in an immunocompromised patient and discusses the challenges of diagnosis and treatment in a resource-limited setting.

## Contribution

The paper contributes a detailed case report of a rare right heart thrombus and the clinical decision-making in a low-resource environment.

## Key findings

- Right heart thrombi are rare and often undiagnosed, leading to high morbidity and mortality.
- Bedside ultrasound improves early detection of right heart thrombi.
- In resource-limited settings, clinicians must carefully balance therapeutic options for right heart thrombi.

## Abstract

Right heart thrombi are a rare entity and are most often a result of deep vein thrombosis or structural heart disease. Right heart thrombi are frequently associated with pulmonary emboli and are often undiagnosed, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The use of bedside ultrasound has made it far easier to identify these right heart thrombi or clots in transit. Early identification leads to early management and also aids the clinician in distinguishing the presentation from the many other causes of chest pain and shortness of breath.

The authors present a case of a right atrial thrombus in an immunocompromised adult male patient. In this case report, the authors describe the investigations that led to the rapid identification of the right heart thrombus. Therapeutic options traditionally include surgical embolectomy, thrombolysis, anticoagulation, and percutaneous retrieval techniques. The authors were based in a resource-limited setting and will discuss the decision-making process that ensued.