The Management of Intracardiac Thrombus in a COVID-19 Patient Using IV Thrombolytics: A Case Report

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has unveiled numerous clinical challenges, particularly its association with thrombotic events, which significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality. While thrombotic complications such as arterial and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are well-documented, instances of intracardiac thrombus are notably rare. This case report discusses a 60-year-old male with COVID-19 who came to the hospital due to respiratory distress. Despite treatment with remdesivir, the patient's condition worsened prompting further workup. His nuclear medicine (NM) ventilation-perfusion scan was inconclusive, but a 2D echocardiogram showed an intracardiac thrombus in the right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV). As the patient's condition worsened, necessitating a transition from nasal cannula to high-flow nasal cannula, a decision was made to treat him with intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy. The patient received 100 mg IV alteplase and IV heparin, resulting in significant respiratory improvement and symptomatic relief. A repeat echocardiogram after 48 hours showed normal ejection fraction and complete thrombus resolution. In conclusion, this case highlights the complex link between COVID-19 infection and prothrombotic states, leading to severe complications such as intracardiac thrombus in transit. The successful treatment of this patient through a multidisciplinary approach and thrombolytic therapy underscores the importance of prompt recognition and intervention in high-risk cases.