Retained central venous catheter fragment in a premature infant: retrievalby a nonsurgical technique.

Central venous access is a frequent procedure in pediatric intensive care a nd neonatology. Catheter fracture with migration of the distal portion into the vessels is rare but may have side effects such as thrombosis. Case rep ort - We report the case of a premature infant who had at three weeks of ag e a retained central venous catheter fragment in the pulmonary artery: The fragment was successfully retrieved by a percutaneous endovascular techniqu e. No complication was observed during the procedure and afterward. Conclus ion, - This technique has avoided either delicate surgery or thrombotic ris k due to a persistent intravascular foreign body. The authors prompted this interventional procedure within 36 hours after catheter migration in a cen ter experienced in neonatal interventional catheterization. (C) 2000 Editio ns scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.