Percutaneous Retrieval of Dislodged Chemo Port Catheter With Inaccessible Tips by a Simplified Technique

Central venous port catheters (CVPCs) are commonly employed for long-term chemotherapy. One of the rare complications associated with CVPCs is catheter fracture and further embolization of the fragmented segment into the heart. The most common site of embolization is the superior vena cava-right atrium (RA) junction. However, infrequently, the catheter may embolize further distally into the right ventricle (RV) and beyond making the fragmented tips difficult to access directly with a snare. Here, we report a case wherein both the catheter tips were lodged in the RV cavity forming a loop in the RA. This necessitated the use of a modified technique to retrieve the fragment percutaneously.

Automated summary

CVPCs are commonly used for long-term chemotherapy, and a rare complication is catheter fracture leading to embolization into the heart, sometimes requiring a modified technique for retrieval.