title: Vascular erosion by central venous catheters. Clinical features and outcome.
abstract: We evaluated the clinical characteristics of eight patients who presented with vascular erosion from central venous catheters and reviewed the available literature. Patients typically presented with dyspnea or chest pain, unilateral or bilateral pleural effusions, and mediastinal widening one to seven days after catheter insertion. Pleural fluid appeared transudative with variable glucose concentrations (range, 174 to 588 mg/dl) that were always greater than concurrent serum values. Diagnosis was delayed 3.0 +/- 1.5 days (range, 0 to 11 days) after vascular erosion. One patient died and four patients received chest tubes. Seven of eight patients had left-sided line placement; six of these seven left-sided catheters abutted the superior vena cava wall within approximately 45 degrees of perpendicular. Results of a literature search confirm the hazards of delayed diagnosis and the importance of left-sided catheter placement as a risk factor for vascular erosion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix 85001-2071.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duntley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siever
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Korwes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Harpel
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Heffner
mesh_terms: D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000293:injuries*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000293:injuries*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000293:injuries*