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Case Reports
. 2018 Jun;97(25):e11144.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000011144.

A foreign body in the cephalic vein: A case report

Mingzhi Song  1 , Maohua Wei, Ze Song, Liang Li, Jifeng Fan, Mozhen Liu
Affiliations
Case Reports

A foreign body in the cephalic vein: A case report

Mingzhi Song et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Rationale: Foreign bodies in the vasculature usually cause numerous problems for clinical physicians. Physician experience with diagnosing and treating non-iatrogenic foreign body migration in the venous system is insufficient.

Patient concerns: Here, we reported a 41-year-old male who had a foreign body in his left forearm following a work-related injury.

Diagnoses: X-ray films indicated a 3-mm high-density shadow in the superficial soft tissue of the left forearm. During the operation, the foreign body was imaged by a C-arm fluoroscope to provide a more accurate location.

Interventions: The foreign body was removed completely following a microsuture of the cephalic vein.

Outcomes: The procedure was uneventful, and the patient remained asymptomatic after 6 months of clinical follow-up.

Lessons: This case indicated that the foreign body in the superficial tissue needed to be accurately diagnosed and located. X-ray and C-arm fluoroscope imaging should be combined with the patient's medical history to ensure sufficient preoperative preparation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
X-ray films of the foreign body. There was a 3-mm high-density shadow in the superficial soft tissue. Additionally, an old fracture of the left ulnar styloid process was found.
Figure 2
Figure 2
C-arm fluoroscope imaging during the operation. (A) At the beginning of the operation, the location of the foreign body was close to the elbow joint. (B) At the end of the operation, there was no obvious residue remaining.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The operation procedure. (A–C) The foreign body (FB) was found and removed from the cephalic vein. (D) The FB was completely displayed. (E,F) The incision of the cephalic vein was repaired by microsuture.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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