Deep venous thrombosis caused by a lost guide wire. Case study and review of literature

Five months after the initial abdominal surgery, a female patient presented with a deep venous thrombosis of the right leg. A guide wire, lost during perisurgical insertion of a central venous catheter using Seldinger's techn ique, was identified and surgically removed. The guide wire had previously remained undetected despite regular radiological controls. The article pres ents details of the case together with a review of the literature regarding potential complications of Seldinger's technique. Common reasons and possi ble options for preventive and therapeutic strategies will be discussed.