Non-invasive removal of a misplaced and knotted guidewire during ultrasound-guided central venous catheter insertion in a hybrid operating room: a case report

Background: The standard of care for placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) includes a real-time ultrasound (US)-guided technique. We describe a rare case in which the guidewire penetrated the posterior wall of the vessel, forming a knot, which precluded simple removal. This occurred despite the procedure being performed under real-time US guidance. The guidewire was eventually removed under fluoroscopic guidance in a hybrid operation room.

Case presentation: An 89-year-old male underwent the placement of a CVC in the left internal jugular vein. During the US-guided procedure, the guidewire penetrated the posterior wall of the vessel and formed a knot, which impeded simple removal. This was confirmed by radiologic imaging. Using a short sheath and a push-pull technique, the radiologist was able to untangle the knot to allow for catheter removal. The guidewire was safely removed without vascular injury.

Conclusions: A very rare complication of guidewire knotting was observed despite the use of US-guidance during needle and wire placement. The use of US, computed tomography, and fluoroscopy were beneficial for diagnosis, while the hybrid operating room provided the optimal environment for the removal procedure.