PERIPHERAL VENOUS CATHETER EMBOLISM

The accidental embolization of peripheral venous catheter fragments se ems to be a rare event. Removal of the catheter embolus is usually rec ommended, because of the high morbidity and mortality rates from sepsi s, perforation, thrombosis and arrhythmias. We report a case, in which the diagnosis was made 17 years after the embolization by the means o f a systematic chest X-ray. The use of spiral CT scan with computerize d post-processing 3D reconstruction confirmed the diagnosis. Because o f good tolerance during this very long term, a not-to-treat decision w as taken.