Etiology and retrieval of retained central venous catheter fragments within the heart and great vessels of infants and children

Background: The use of centrally positioned venous catheters plays an indispensable role in the care of infants and children. Methods: Since 1992 the authors have seen nine patients who experienced fragmentation and migration of catheter fragments into the central circulation. The patients ranged in age from 6 days to 15 years. Results: Sites of migration included pulmonary artery (five patients), superior vena cava (two patients), hepatic vein and innominate vein (one patient). The elapsed time from recognition of retained catheter fragments until retrieval ranged from a few hours to 6 weeks. Conclusion: All retained fragments were successfully removed during cardiac catheterization without complications. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.