Significance of a curled central venous catheter tip.
A malpositioned central venous catheter can cause constant excessive pressure on one particular area of a central vein, thus leading to perforation and hydrothorax. The following is a case report of an iatrogenic hydrothorax caused by a malpositioned central venous catheter. The subtle sign of malposition is a slightly curled catheter tip.
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Department of Surgery, Temple University Health Sciences Center, Philadelphia 19140.
Badellino
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D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006876:Hydrothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior