A rare complication of implanted central-venous access devices: catheter fracture and embolization.
Support Care Cancer
; 3(6): 432-4, 1995 Nov.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-8564351
ABSTRACT
Totally implanted central-venous access devices are frequently used for the administration of chemotherapy or parenteral nutrition. Catheter fracture is a rare complication of these devices, with an estimated rate of 0.1%. We have lately seen three cases of catheter fracture with embolization of a catheter fragment to the heart and pulmonary vessels. These cases are described in this article. Catheter fracture is caused by intermittent compression of the catheter between the clavicula and the first rib, which can occur when the catheter has been inserted too far medially. When, on an X-ray of the chest, the catheter is shown to be compressed at the point where the clavicula crosses the first rib, or when infusion through the device suddenly becomes difficult, the chance of catheter fracture is high and the device should be removed.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pulmonary Embolism
/
Coronary Thrombosis
/
Catheterization, Central Venous
/
Catheters, Indwelling
/
Foreign-Body Migration
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Support Care Cancer
Year:
1995
Document type:
Article