Indwelling pericardial drainage catheter break secondary to heart movement and catheter angulation.
We report on a case of a pericardial drainage catheter that severed on attempted removal. Surgery was required to remove the retained portion. No manufacturing defects were found on analysis of the catheter. Shear forces due to heart movement and the angle of catheter entry into the pericardium were the suspected reasons for the catheter disruption.
Johnson
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Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque. losborn@medusa.unm.edu
Osborn
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D000328:Adult; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004322:Drainage; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D013718:Tensile Strength