Retained Fractured Fragment of A Central Venous Catheter A Minimally Invasive Approach to Safe Retrieval

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Complication following fracture of a central venous catheter can be catastrophic toboth the patient and the attending doctor. Catheter fracture has been attributed to several factors namelyprolong mechanical force acting on the catheter, and forceful removal or insertion of the catheter.CASE DETAILS: In the present case, the fracture was suspected during the process of removal. The tipof the catheter was notably missing, and an emergency chest radiograph confirmed our diagnosis of aretained fracture of central venous catheter. The retained portion was removed by the interventionalradiologist using an endovascular loop snare and delivered through a femoral vein venotomy performedby the surgeon.CONCLUSION: Endovascular approach to retrieval of retained fractured catheters has helpedtremendously to reduce associated morbidity and the need for major surgery. The role of surgery hasbecome limited to instances of failed endovascular retrieval and in remote geographical locations devoidof such specialty.