Retrieval of Intravascular Fractured Fragment of Tunnelled Double Lumen Catheter in Hemodialysis Patient

BACKGROUND: Intravascular fractured fragment of double lumen catheter with embolisation is a serious and rare complication. Another serious complication includes infection, thrombosis, arrhythmias, and pulmonary embolism. We report a successful surgical venous cut-down technique in the retrieval of an intravascular fractured fragment of tunnelled double lumen catheter in a hemodialysis patient. CASE REPORT: A 51-year-old female underwent hemodialysis through a tunnelled double lumen catheter and had her arterio-venous graft matured. During retrieval of tunnelled double lumen catheter procedure, the distal part of the catheter was fractured and slipped into the internal jugular vein. Chest radiograph revealed intravascular double lumen catheter extending from the distal part of the right internal jugular vein to right atrium. The procedure of foreign body retrieval was done the next day under general anaesthesia and C-Arm guidance using right internal jugular venous cut-down approach. A right-angle clamp was used to retrieve the fragment without any post-procedure complications. CONCLUSION: Intravascular fractured fragment of double lumen catheter is a dangerous situation as are all the intravascular foreign bodies. The choices of the technique for retrieval of the fractured fragment are varied. It depends on the type and site of a fractured fragment as well as the surgeon experiences.