The Aberrant Central Venous Catheter and Its Complications

Central venous catheters in 300 patients were examined radiologically to determine the position of the tip. The tip was correctly placed in only 62%. Incorrectly positioned catheters may result in inaccurate venous pressure measurements, thrombophlebitis at the catheter tip, pneumothorax, chylothorax, “glucothorax,” pericardial tamponade, arrhythmias, and infusion of potentially toxic or unphysiological solutions into the heart, lungs, or cerebral or hepatic veins. These complications can be avoided by precise radiological localization of the catheter tip.