A patient with an uncommon complication from insertion of a central venous catheter: A case report

BACKGROUND: A 72 year old male was admitted to the medical intensive care unit with septic shock. CASE PRESENTATION: A left subclavian central venous catheter was inserted on the day of admission whose tip was pushing against the wall of the vessel lumen. The patient's condition improved with treatment, but three days later had a new episode of acute hypotension. CT scan of the chest showed that the catheter had eroded through the superior vena cava wall. CONCLUSION: The catheter was pulled out and patient recovered from the complication with supportive therapy. Care should be taken that the tip of the catheter is in the center of the vessel lumen to avoid this rare, but potentially life threatening, complication.