We present the result of right atrial thrombectomy in a paediatric patient suffering from a right atrial thrombus due to amoebic liver abscess under total circulatory arrest. A 2-year old boy with amoebic liver abscess complicated by inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus extending up to the right atrium (RA) was operated on in our institute. During the surgery, the thrombus was removed from the IVC and the RA under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. After chest closure, open drainage of the abscess was performed. Metronidazole was given postoperatively for 2 weeks. The postoperative period was uneventful. There was rapid convalescence with complete resolution of the abscess. Anticoagulation with warfarin was started on the day following surgery and continued for 6 weeks. There was no recurrence of thrombosis or embolic events in the follow-up period. Extension of thrombus into the right atrium mandates an aggressive surgical approach which may prove life saving. It is crucial in the prevention of pulmonary embolism or Budd-Chiari syndrome, which may have an overall poor outcome.
Keywords: Amoebic liver abscess; Inferior vena cava thrombus; Right atrial thrombus.