Internal mammary artery injury after central venous catheterization

Management of venous perforation during central venous catheterization in hemodialysis patients: Three case reports

RATIONALE

In recent years, central venous catheterization (CVC) has become widely used for hemodialysis patients. Based on 3 cases, we discussed the detection and management of venous perforation at an early stage.

PATIENTS CONCERNS

Patients 1 (male, 77 years), 2 (male, 82 years), and 3 (male, 30 years) were diagnosed with uremia and underwent hemodialysis.

DIAGNOSES

Computed tomography suggested pneumomediastinum in patient 1 and pneumothorax in patient 2 after a replacement of the temporary hemodialysis catheter. In patient 3, X-ray suggested that the tip of the catheter was approximately at the plane of the fifth thoracic vertebrate after the temporary catheter was placed.

INTERVENTIONS

In patients 1 and 2, the catheters were maintained where they were for about 2 weeks until a false lumen formed outside the catheter. In patient 3, the catheter was withdrawn at once when vein perforation was observed.

OUTCOME

In patients 1 and 2, the catheters were adjusted successfully under digital subtraction angiography (DSA) guidance 2 weeks later. In patient 3, hemothorax developed, and a total of approximately 1000 mL of bloody fluid was drained.

LESSONS

When venous perforation occurs during CVC, it is safer and more reliable to adjust or withdraw the catheter under DSA guidance after a false lumen forms outside the catheter.

Internal mammary artery injury during percutaneous coronary intervention: a case report

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is widely used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD). However, complications of PCI are inevitable. Internal mammary artery (IMA) injury is an infrequent but potentially lethal complication of PCI.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 78-year-old man was diagnosed with multivessel lesions by coronary angiography. The IMA was injured during PCI, then cured by early identification and active rescue.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first reported case, to our knowledge, of injury to the IMA during PCI. We we report this case to discuss how to treat this injury effectively and avoid this complication during clinical therapy.

Endovascular coil embolization and stenting for the treatment of iatrogenic right internal mammary artery injury: A case report

A 54-year-old Chinese woman presented with a 10-year history of repeated paroxysmal palpitations. She was diagnosed with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia by 12-lead electrocardiogram and was advised to undergo catheter-based radiofrequency ablation. During the procedure, a rare complication occurred that was diagnosed as a right internal mammary artery penetrating injury. After appropriate emergency treatment with arterial embolization and membrane-covered stent implantation, the patient was out of immediate danger of haemorrhaging. Follow-up computed tomography angiography of the subclavian artery at 3 months after she was discharged from hospital revealed stent-graft patency with no evidence of in-stent thrombosis or stent stenosis. No problems were observed at the 6-month follow-up visit.

Complications of 1309 Internal Jugular Vein Cannulations with the Anatomic Landmarks Technique in Infants and Children

Purpose

Report the procedural complications of internal jugular vein (IJV) catheter insertion in infants and children and discuss how to prevent them.

Methods

An observational study was performed from January 2006 to August 2010; 1309 internal jugular vein cannulae were inserted in the operating room by either staff or resident anesthesiologists. Patient age, weight, sex, type of catheter (diameter, lumen number), number of attempts, and complications were recorded. The discussion is focused on how to prevent or reduce internal jugular vein line insertion related complications in infants and children.

Results

1309 IJV cannulae were inserted, 85.63% of catheters placed were successful after one to three attempts. Complications included 12 arrhythmias (0.91%), 25 arterial punctures (1.90%), 16 hematomas (1.22%), 17 device occlusions, breaks or malpositions (1.29%), 11 line-related infections (0.84%), four cases of thrombus (0.31%), two cardiopulmonary arrests (0.15%), two hemothoraces (0.15%), five pneumothoraces (0.38%), and one guidewire winding (0.07%). The complication rates of resident anesthesiologists were significantly higher compared to staff anesthesiologists for both common and rare complications (4.27% versus 2.21%; 0.68% versus 0.07%, respectively). In addition, residents' number of attempts were greater than staff anesthesiologists (1.84 and 1.38, respectively).

Conclusions

The IJV catheterization was feasible in infants and children. To reduce the risk of complications, the procedure should be performed or supervised by staff anesthesiologists; inserting the needle, guidewire, dilator, and the catheter too far should be avoided. It is now commonly accepted that all central venous cannulations should be performed under ultrasound guidance, especially in children.

Rare but serious complications of central line insertion

Discussions on the complications of central venous catheterization in children typically focus on infectious and the more common mechanical complications of pneumothorax, hemothorax, or thrombosis. Rare complications are often more life-threatening, and inexperience may compound the problem. Central venous catheter complications can be broken down into early or late, depending on when they occur. The more serious complications are typically mechanical and occur early, but delayed presentations of pericardial effusions, cardiac tamponade, and pleural effusions may be of equal severity, and delay in diagnosis can be catastrophic. Careful insertion techniques, as well as continued vigilance in the correct position and function of central venous catheters, are imperative to help prevent serious complications.