title: Transpleural central venous catheter discovered during thoracotomy.
abstract: We report an uncommon complication of subclavian central venous catheterization, discovered at thoracotomy. The central venous catheter (CVC) was placed by left infraclavicular route after induction of general anesthesia. CVC was secured after aspiration of blood and satisfactory central venous tracing. On thoracotomy, CVC was noticed to traverse the pleural cavity while the tracing was normal. CVC was thus removed consequent to which bleeding from each puncture site was noticed, that were secured surgically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, BLK Superspeciality Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashima
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, L.R.S Institute of T.B and Respiratory Diseases, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, L.R.S Institute of T.B and Respiratory Diseases, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashvini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Max Superspeciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malhotra
keywords: Central venous catheter; infraclavicular; thoracotomy; transpleural