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Inadvertent Puncture of the Thoracic Duct During Attempted Central Venous Catheter Placement

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Abstract

We report a case of puncture of the thoracic duct during left subclavian vein catheterization on the intensive care unit. Computed tomography and measurement of the triglyceride levels in the aspirated fluid proved the inadvertent penetration of the guidewire into the thoracic duct. Early recognition of central line misplacement avoided serious complications. Inadvertent central venous catheter placement into the thoracic duct may have the potential complications of infusion mediastinum and chylothorax.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum Humboldt-Universität zu, Berlin, Augusten berger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany

    Ulf K.M. Teichgraber, Bernhard Gebauer & Hans-Joachim Wagner

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Lutz Nibbe

  3. Department of Radiology, Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Hans-Joachim Wagner

Authors
  1. Ulf K.M. Teichgraber
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  2. Lutz Nibbe
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  3. Bernhard Gebauer
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  4. Hans-Joachim Wagner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulf K.M. Teichgraber.

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Teichgraber, U., Nibbe, L., Gebauer, B. et al. Inadvertent Puncture of the Thoracic Duct During Attempted Central Venous Catheter Placement . CVIR 26, 569–571 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-003-0102-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-003-0102-1

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