- Catheter tip not positioned in femoral vein or inferior vena cava
- Catheter tip in right atrium which can lead to erosion of tip through right atrium into pericardial space causing cardiac tamponade
- Catheter placed in artery rather than in vein
- Catheter perforation of vessel during placement
- Catheter tip thrombosis which can extend into any adjacent vein
- Retained or embolized catheter fragment
Approach to the differential diagnosis of femoral venous catheter malfunction:
- Tip of catheter should be in femoral vein or inferior vena cava, otherwise tip is malpositioned
- Catheter tip in the right atrium can lead to erosion of catheter through atrium into pericardial space causing cardiac tamponade
- Suspect catheter is placed in artery rather than in vein when catheter does not appear to have a normal venous course
- Suspect catheter perforation of vessel during placement when catheter does not appear to have a normal venous or arterial course
- Catheter tip thrombosis which can extend into any adjacent vein may occur