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Catheter Fracture and Embolization in a Totally Implanted Venous Access Catheter
Author(s) -
Franey Thomas,
Demarco Linda C.,
Geiss Alan C.,
Ward Robert J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607188012005528
Subject(s) - catheter , embolization , medicine , venous access , surgery , radiology
A totally implanted venous access system was placed in a 24‐year‐old male patient with Hodgkins disease for chemotherapy. Twelve months after implantation it was noted on chest x‐ray that the catheter had fractured and the distal fragment embolized to the right ventricle. Catheter separation and embolization is a recognized but uncommon complication of Hickman catheters. It is an even rarer complication of implanted central venous catheters. With the increasing use of these new venous access systems this complication may become a more prevalent, but an avoidable complication. ( Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 12: 528–530, 1988)