Disconnection and Migration of a Subcutaneously Implanted Catheter System in a One-Year-Old Boy

The use of central venous indwelling catheters or totally implantable systems for venous access is currently widespread in adult and pediatric patients because of their high efficiency and minimal invasiveness. Although rare, complications due to the system can occur. In most of these cases complications consist of port/catheter infection and thrombosis. Catheter breakage, disconnection or migration are rarely reported in the literature, but make further use of the venous access impossible and are thereby a potential source of vessel occlusion and thrombosis. Migration of the catheter into both pulmonary arteries is reported in a one-year-old boy and percutaneous retrieval was performed using a 4F-pigtail catheter and a snare.