Percutaneous Retrieval of an Embolized Mediport Catheter in a Patient Receiving Therapy for Hodgkins Lymphoma

Abstract

The use of indwelling venous access lines in pediatric patients with malignant diseases has become widespread.^1,2 External venous catheters have reduced the number of venipunctures for laboratory studies and intravenous catheter insertions for administration of chemotherapy. Subcutaneous ports offer the additional advantage of lower incidence of infection and mechanical complications, less restriction of physical activity, no need for parental maintenance of patency, and better body image. The potential drawbacks of indwelling catheters include infection, malfunction, thrombus formation, migration, arrhythmias, endocarditis, and perforations of veins or right atrium with resultant hemothorax, hemomediastinum, or hemopericardium. In this report we describe another rare complication, catheter embolization to the left pulmonary artery, and a simple percutaneous technique to manage it.