Radiographic inguinal curl may indicate paraspinal misplacement of percutaneously inserted central venous catheters: report of three cases.
BACKGROUND
Misplacement of percutaneously inserted central venous catheters (PCVCs) into the paraspinal venous plexus can result in devastating outcomes. Several cases have been reported in the literature together with an explanation of the mechanism.


OBJECTIVE
To describe three premature babies with their PCVCs inserted through the left saphenous vein that ended up in the lumbar spinal dural venous plexus.


RESULTS
Plain radiographs obtained to check positions showed an unusual 360 degrees curl of the PCVC in the left inguinal area.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that misplacement of the catheter into the paraspinal venous plexus could be diagnosed with great accuracy if such a curl is seen.
Chedid
Faris
F
Department of Paediatrics, Al Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Abbas
Adil
A
Morris
Lloyd
L
D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007264:Inguinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors; D011859:Radiography; D012501:Saphenous Vein