title: Bilateral pleural effusions following central venous cannulation.
abstract: We describe a patient who developed bilateral pleural effusions as a delayed complication following central venous catheter insertion. Respiratory distress should not only raise the clinical suspicion of a pneumothorax but also of erosion and perforation of the central vein. The mechanism, diagnosis, management and prevention of this complication are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom. pecklingtan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Clh
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D035422:Pleural Cavity; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior