title: Position-dependent ventricular tachycardia related to a peripherally inserted central catheter.
abstract: Recently, peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) have been widely used for venous access. Advantages of a PICC over centrally inserted central catheters include the virtual elimination of the risk of pneumothorax, hemothorax, and arterial puncture, along with a reduced risk of bleeding. However, the PICC has associated risks. We present 2 cases of body position-dependent ventricular tachycardia related to PICCs. These events occurred in patients with no prior history of cardiac arrhythmia and were corrected by repositioning of the PICC. They serve to identify a potentially serious cardiac complication of the PICC that, to our knowledge, has not been described previously.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minn. 55905, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bivins
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Callahan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology