title: Hemodialysis central venous catheter tip fracture with embolization into the pulmonary artery.
abstract: We describe the first reported case of spontaneous hemodialysis catheter fracture and embolization. We also include a summary of similar cases not previously reported in the literature that appear in the Food and Drug Administration records as medical equipment malfunctions. Our patient presented with a cough and was initially treated for presumptive pneumonia. A chest radiograph indicated that the tip of the catheter had fractured and migrated into a distal branch of the pulmonary artery. The catheter was replaced, but the tip could not be retrieved because of its peripheral location. Possible causes and consequences of this underreported complication are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA. minkchawla@hotmail.com
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chegini
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Guzman
mesh_terms: D016263:AIDS-Associated Nephropathy / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011859:Radiography; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology