Infant with a central venous catheter placed 6 months ago that now cannot be infused through

Cardiovascular
CXR of central venous catheter migrating out of the superior vena cava over time
CXR AP obtained at placement (above left) shows the tip of the central venous catheter in the superior vena cava. CXR AP obtained 2 months after placement (above right) shows the tip of the central venous catheter to have migrated slightly back in the interval. CXR AP obtained 4 months after placement (below left) shows the tip of the central venous catheter to have migrated slightly further back in the interval. CXR AP obtained 6 months after placement (below right) shows the tip of the central venous catheter to have migrated out of the superior vena cava entirely.

The diagnosis was central venous catheter malfunction in the form of the catheter migrating slowly out of the superior vena cava.

Published