An Unusual Case of a Stuck Catheter in a Sick Neonate

Cureus. 2024 Oct 18;16(10):e71773. doi: 10.7759/cureus.71773. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Abstract

The umbilical vein can be reliably used for central venous access in neonates less than 14 days old. The catheter used in the umbilical vein normally extends proximally to the inferior vena cava and can be utilized for drug delivery as well as venous sampling. Herein, we describe a neonate with a broken umbilical vein catheter (UVC) stuck in the right atrium and inferior vena cava (IVC), and its successful, uneventful removal via the transfemoral route.

Keywords: broken catheter; cardiac catheterization; snare; stuck catheter; umbilical vein catheter.

Publication types

  • Case Reports