Successful removal of a central venous catheter misplaced in the right subclavian artery using an intravascular stent: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cannulation of a central venous catheter is sometimes associated with serious complications. When arterial cannulation occurs, attention must be given to removal of a catheter. CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old man was planned for emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair. After the induction of anesthesia, a central venous catheter was unintentionally inserted into the right subclavian artery. We planned to remove the catheter. Since we considered that surgical repair would be highly invasive for the patient, we decided to remove it using a percutaneous intravascular stent. A stent was inserted through the right axillary artery. The stent was expanded immediately after the catheter was removed. Post-procedural angiography revealed no leakage from the catheter insertion site and no occlusion of the right subclavian and vertebral arteries. There were no obvious hematoma or thrombotic complications. CONCLUSIONS: A catheter that has been misplaced into the right subclavian artery was safely removed using an intravascular stent.