Management of Brachiocephalic Vein Injury During Tubeless Subxiphoid Thoracoscopic Thymectomy.

We have reported the usefulness of the subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery approach in thymectomy. However, such a new method may have unknown complications that rarely occur. The brachiocephalic vein has been considered to be the vessel that is most frequently injured when performing thymectomy because of the skeletal anatomy. We herein report a case of intraoperative injury of brachiocephalic vein using tubeless subxiphoid thoracoscopic thymectomy. No additional complications have been found in the 3 months since the operation. Though subxiphoid video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery thymectomy is a safe and less invasive operation, intraoperative complications are possible, and surgeons should express caution.

Innominate Vein Injury Secondary to First-Time Sternotomy.

Innominate vein injury is a known potential complication of redo sternotomy, but transection of the innominate vein after first-time median sternotomy has not been previously described. A 71-year-old woman experienced left innominate vein transection upon division of the sternum for coronary artery bypass grafting. Subsequent massive bleeding required digital compression of the transected vessel ends, open manual cardiac massage, institution of a massive transfusion protocol, and pharmacologic support before hemodynamic control was gained by instituting cardiopulmonary bypass. Left innominate vein injury can occur with both first-time and redo sternotomy.

Perforación vascular por catéter venoso central / Vascular perforation by central venous catheter

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Prevention and treatment of dilator injuries during central venous catheter placement.

BACKROUND: Misuse of vascular dilators during the placement of central venous catheters has been infrequently reported and can lead to devastating intrathoracic hemorrhage and death. These injuries should be preventable in most cases. If a major intrathoracic vascular injury is recognized intraoperatively, less invasive treatment options are available to minimize the consequences. METHODS: The records of 20 patients who suffered 21 major vascular injuries during insertion of central venous catheters, ports, or dialysis catheters and resulted in malpractice claims over the course of 8 years were analyzed to determine the mechanism of injury, the timing of diagnosis, and how these injuries were treated. How the injury could have been prevented, why earlier diagnosis was not made, and what treatment options were possible were also examined. RESULTS: Twelve women and eight men were documented to have sustained intrathoracic major venous injuries during catheter insertions. There were five injuries to the superior vena cava, six to the right innominate vein, and 10 to the left innominate vein. All procedures were done using fluoroscopic guidance, and resistance to passage of the dilators was documented in eight cases. In most cases, the operator reported inserting the dilators to their maximum length. In four cases, the catheter could be seen intraoperatively in the thoracic cavity. Bleeding was diagnosed in the operating room in 11 cases, in the postanesthesia care unit in seven cases, and on postoperative days 2 and 5 after misplaced catheters were removed. Ten patients underwent thoracotomies and one patient each underwent thoracoscopy and placement of a covered stent in an attempt to stop the hemorrhage. Eight patients died before the diagnosis was made. Seventeen patients died. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of U.S. Food and Drug Administration warnings, dilators are still inserted too far in patients, resulting in devastating hemorrhage. These complications are preventable if proper technique is used. When a catheter is noted to be misplaced, it must not be removed before either a covered stent or thoracoscopy is available; otherwise, uncontrolled hemorrhage into the chest may occur. If a patient becomes unstable in the operating room or immediate postoperative period injury to a major vein must be considered and corrected quickly.

Percutaneous endovascular treatment of an iatrogenic superior cava vein syndrome during the immediate post-operative period after mitral-aortic valve replacement. / Tratamiento endovascular percutáneo de un síndrome de vena cava superior en el postoperatorio inmediato de recambio valvular mitroaórtico.

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) results from superior vena cava obstruction, causing a decrease in venous return from the head, neck, and upper extremities. Although the most frequent cause is still malignant tumour processes, in recent years an increase has been observed in non-tumour causes, such as thrombosis of intravascular devices or iatrogenic causes during cardiac surgery. A case is presented of SVCS after cardiac surgery treated satisfactorily by an endovascular technique and systemic anticoagulation.

Delayed Malposition of Central Venous Catheter Induced Mediastinum Hematoma With Innominate Vein Perforation.

Central venous catheterization (CVC) is a common invasive procedure. Although it is a relatively safe procedure, severe complications occurred sometimes. One of the most serious complications is large vessel perforation. A 40-year-old man was send to intensive care unit (ICU) after liver transplantation surgery with massive blood transfusion. Four days later, chest computed tomography (CT) were arranged for unknown leukocytosis and high level of procalcitonin. Chest CT revealed possibility of innominate vein perforation by CVC. Surgeon confirmed the malposition of CVC complicated perforation and repaired innominate vein. Unfortunately, the patient passed away 8 days later after this re-operation even initially better condition after aggressive treatment. Delayed malposition of CVC is a rare cause for CVC complications. To minimize incidence of this severe complication, catheterization should be performed very carefully and post-procedure position checking is indicated.

Blunt traumatic scapular fractures are associated with great vessel injuries in children.

BACKGROUND: Patients with stable blunt great vessel injury (GVI) can have poor outcomes if the injury is not identified early. With current pediatric trauma radiation reduction efforts, these injuries may be missed. As a known association between scapular fracture and GVI exists in adult blunt trauma patients, we examined whether that same association existed in pediatric blunt trauma patients. METHODS: Bluntly injured patients younger than 18 years old were identified from 2012 to 2014 in the National Trauma Data Bank. Great vessel injury included all major thoracic vessels and carotid/jugular. Demographics of patients with and without scapular fracture were compared with descriptive statistics. The χ test was used to examine this association using SAS Version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC). RESULTS: We found a significant association between pediatric scapular fracture and GVI. Of 291,632 children identified, 1,960 had scapular fractures. Children with scapular fracture were 10 times more likely to have GVI (1.2%) compared to those without (0.12%, p < 0.0001). Most common GVI seen were carotid artery, thoracic aorta, and brachiocephalic or subclavian artery or vein. Children with both scapular fracture and GVI were most commonly injured by motor vehicles (57% collision, 26% struck). CONCLUSIONS: Injured children with blunt scapular fracture have a 10-fold greater risk of having a GVI when compared to children without scapular fracture. Presence of blunt traumatic scapular fracture should have appropriate index of suspicion for a significant GVI in pediatric trauma patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic and prognostic study, level III; Therapeutic, level IV.

The Selective Non-operative Management of Penetrating Cervical Venous Trauma is Safe and Effective.

BACKGROUND: This paper reviews our experience with penetrating cervical venous trauma and aims to validate the selective non-operative management (SNOM) of these injuries. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained registry. All patients presenting alive with an injury to the internal jugular vein, subclavian vein or innominate vein following a PNI were reviewed for a 6-year period. RESULTS: Among 817 patients admitted for the management of PNI, 76 (9.3%) had a venous injury. Of these, 37 (48.7%) patients were managed non-surgically, 20 (26.3%) required immediate surgical exploration, seven of whom had an associated arterial injury, and 19 (25%) underwent surgery following a diagnostic CTA, 16 of whom had an associated arterial or aero-digestive injury. In total, only 16 (21.1%) of the 76 patients required exploration for venous injury alone. The majority (63.2%) of patients had a history of severe bleeding or hemodynamic instability prior to arrival, but only 20 (26.3%) required immediate exploration. Two (2.6%) patients died as a result of venous injury. No patients developed complications related to the venous injury. CONCLUSIONS: SNOM is applicable to a well-defined subset of patients with isolated penetrating cervical venous trauma to the IJV and SCV identified on CTA.

Central Venous Catheter Placement in the Left Internal Jugular Vein Complicated by Perforation of the Left Brachiocephalic Vein and Massive Hemothorax: A Case Report.

An elderly male presented for emergent repair of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. For anticipated volume resuscitation, vasopressor administration, and hemodynamic monitoring, a large-bore central venous catheter was placed in the left internal jugular vein under ultrasound guidance before surgical incision. Initially, there were no readily apparent signs of venous perforation. However, a massive left hemothorax developed because of perforation of the brachiocephalic vein and violation of the pleural space. This case report discusses both prevention and management of such a complication.

Management of Innominate Vein Rupture During Superior Vena Cava Angioplasty.

Although vessel perforation rarely occurs during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a central venous stenosis, it can be a rapidly fatal complication when accompanied by pericardial tamponade. The present case report details our experience with this dangerous complication. It also highlights the risk factors for and the pathogenesis of central venous stenosis, the clinical findings associated with inadvertent vessel perforation during an intervention, and anesthetic management strategies for pericardial tamponade resulting from vessel perforation.

Dialysis catheter placement via the left internal jugular vein: risk of brachiocephalic vein perforation.

PURPOSE: We discuss a case of a brachiocephalic vein (BCV) perforation after Tesio® central venous catheter insertion. METHOD AND RESULTS: An 80-year-old patient underwent an ultrasound-guided hemodialysis (HD) catheter placement via his left internal jugular vein (IJV). One day postoperatively, the patient became hemodynamically unstable immediately after HD initiation. As a vascular event was feared, an emergency CT scan was performed demonstrating a BCV perforation. The patient underwent a sternotomy, the lines were removed and the venous laceration was closed. The patient recovered well. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of ultrasound guidance, fluoroscopy for guidewire and sheath advancement, venous blood aspiration and a normal appearing postoperative x-ray, traumatic central venous catheter placement is still possible. Tenting of the BCV wall during catheter advancement possibly caused the venous perforation. A 'how-to' for correct catheter placement via the IJV is provided and potential pitfalls during each procedural step are discussed.

Posterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation with brachiocephalic vein injury: a case report.

Posterior dislocation of the clavicle is an uncommon injury, usually related to road traffic or contact sports accidents. The close proximity of vital structures in the mediastinum should alert the surgeon avoiding a closed reduction in the emergency setting. A multidisciplinary team of expert surgeons should be involved and a combined procedure performed. Nevertheless, the risk of developing complications is high. We report this case in order to outline one of the potential complications, to discuss appropriate imaging studies and to describe the details of a safe surgical approach.

A novel endovascular treatment for long-standing high-flow arteriovenous fistula.

We describe a novel use of an Amplatzer III plug device (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, Minn) in the treatment of a traumatic arteriovenous fistula between the innominate vein and the origin of the left common carotid artery causing symptomatic right heart failure. A review of the literature indicates this is the first case to describe the use of the Amplatzer III device in this way. We demonstrate immediate closure of fistula radiologically and complete symptomatic resolution at short-term follow-up.