title: Retrieval of a fractured piece of Tessio catheter with a snare using a transcutaneous transvenous approach.
abstract: Approximately 20% of end-stage renal disease patients requiring hemodialysis have central dialysis catheters as their vascular access. The major cause of central dialysis catheters removal or revision is infection or occlusion. Catheter occlusions may occur as a result of thrombosis or fibrin sheath formation. However, the presence of a fractured dialysis catheter tip requiring immediate extraction to prevent serious complications is rare. Herein we present the case of a central dialysis catheter referred to us for malfunction. An incidental finding was a piece of catheter that had broken off the venous port and was seen in the right atrium. The retrieval and subsequent placement of a new central dialysis catheter are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130, USA. fzaman@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Fahim
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Aslam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pervez
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Abreo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006435:Renal Dialysis