Fatal cardiac tamponade in a patient receiving total parenteral nutrition via a silastic central venous catheter

Abstract

This is the first reported case of cardiac tamponade secondary to ventricular perforation involving a silastic catheter. The catheter had advanced into the right ventricle and become enmeshed in the trabeculae carnae. At autopsy there was an area of necrosis which we presumed was caused by the continuous direct contact of a small area of endocardium and subadjacent myocardium with the hypertonic infusate used for parenteral nutrition.