title: Catheter fracture and embolization in a totally implanted venous access catheter.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York 11030.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franey
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: DeMarco
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Geiss
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography