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Intrapericardial infusion of 5‐fluorouracil. An unusual complication of a hickman catheter
Author(s) -
CathcartRake William F.,
Mowery William E.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19910201)67:3<735::aid-cncr2820670334>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiac tamponade , pericardium , surgery , catheter , complication , pericarditis , fluorouracil , superior vena cava , chemotherapy
Venous access devices (VAD) have become an important tool in the management of patients with cancer. Multiple complications can occur as a consequence of insertion of a VAD. The authors report a case of a Hickman catheter perforating the wall of the superior vena cava into the pericardium, resulting in accidental intrapericardial infusion of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU). Pericarditis and cardiac arrhythmias developed, but the patient did not have cardiac tamponade. She recovered from the event without apparent chronic cardiac dysfunction.