Malposition of a Tunneled Cuffed Hemodialysis Catheter: Where Did the Catheter Go?

Abstract

The first site of insertion of central venous catheters for hemodialysis is usually the right jugular vein, and in some cases we find it necessary to insert catheters into the left jugular vein. In our case, we describe the case of a patient aged 80 years, which required the placement of a tunneled catheter for hemodialysis at the level of the left jugular vein which was complicated by a malposition of the catheter at the level of the mediastinum causing a breach at the level of the left brachiocephalic venous trunk, requiring withdrawal of the catheter without incident. In order to avoid this type of complication, we recommend a chest X-ray after the insertion to verify the correct position of the catheter.