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Case Reports
. 2016 Dec;8(12):E1581-E1584.
doi: 10.21037/jtd.2016.12.02.

Peripheral venous catheter fracture with embolism into the pulmonary artery

Andrea Dell'Amore  1 , Chady Ammari  1 , Alessio Campisi  1 , Rocco D'Andrea  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Peripheral venous catheter fracture with embolism into the pulmonary artery

Andrea Dell'Amore et al. J Thorac Dis. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Peripheral vein catheterization is generally considered a harmless procedure. Venous catheter rupture associated with pulmonary embolism is an unlikely but potentially serious complication. We report a case of a peripheral venous catheter (PVC) fracture with pulmonary artery embolization in the left lower lobe treated successfully by a surgical approach. The positioning of a PVC is not always a harmless procedure. Every time there are difficulties in positioning or in removal of a catheter device, it should be carefully inspected to verify integrity. The advisability of removal of these small foreign bodies is debated; percutaneous retrieval is preferred, while surgery should be discussed case by case.

Keywords: Thoracic surgery; case report; intravascular embolization; venous catheter.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pulmonary computed tomography angiography showing the catheter fragment in a subsegmental posterior-basal segment of the left lower lobe (A: anterior view, B: lateral view).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Surgical specimen. (A,B) Surgical specimen (atypical lung resection) showing the catheter inside the peripheral branch of the pulmonary artery; (C) the catheter fragment was compared with a normal PVC of 20 gauge; (D) the small fragment after removal from lung parenchyma. PVC, peripheral venous catheter.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Possible mechanism of catheter breakage. (A) First puncture outside the posterior wall of the vessel; (B) retraction of the needle; (C) needle reinsertion with catheter perforation; (D) fragmentation of the catheter at the time of removal.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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