Spontaneous fracture of the outlet catheter of a totally implanted catheter system (Port-A-Cath)

Int J Artif Organs. 1994 Sep;17(9):505-7.

Abstract

A case of spontaneous fracture of the outlet catheter of a totally implanted catheter system (Port-A-Cath) is presented. The outlet catheter was fractured at the entrance into the left subclavian vein twenty-one weeks after insertion and the distal part was embolized in the right ventricle. The embolized catheter fragment was retrieved by a 'goose-neck' snare via the right femoral vein. The awareness of a possible spontaneous fracture of the outlet catheter of a totally implanted catheter system (Port-A-Cath) is important to prevent accidental spillage of potent cytotoxic substances.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Catheterization, Central Venous* / adverse effects
  • Catheters, Indwelling / standards*
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Fluoroscopy
  • Foreign-Body Migration / therapy*
  • Heart Ventricles*
  • Hodgkin Disease / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Infusion Pumps, Implantable
  • Mechlorethamine / administration & dosage
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Procarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Subclavian Vein
  • Vinblastine / administration & dosage
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Bleomycin
  • Procarbazine
  • Mechlorethamine
  • Vincristine
  • Vinblastine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • MOPP-ABV protocol