Right subclavian vein catheterism complication due to a 'foreign body': a case report.
BACKGROUND
Central venous access devices are widely used in hospital practice. Complications associated with their use are well described and reviewed. In this paper, we report a former complication that in turn created a new complication during a standardized procedure.


METHODS
We report the case of an 81-year-old Caucasian woman requiring total parenteral nutrition due to a high-debt enterocutaneous fistula. In a previous right subclavian catheterization a fragmentation of the tip of the catheter, probably not recognized at the time, provoked an extrinsic compression of the vessel.


CONCLUSIONS
Fragmentation of a central venous catheter is a possible complication of catheterization and can be missed. Control of a catheter is imperative after its removal, even if not always practiced.
Surgery Department, Hospital N, S, Rosário, Av, Forças Armadas, Barreiro, Portugal. zasidiropoulou@sapo.pt.
Zacharoula
Z
Sidiropoulou
Pedro
P
João
Paula
P
Vasconcelos
Cristiana
C
Couceiro