M Ricci1, A O Puente, F Gusmano, R LaRaja. 1. Department of Surgery, Cabrini Medical Center/The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe an unusual case of accidental insertion of a central line into an anomalous right-sided aortic arch. DESIGN: Case report, clinical. SETTINGS: Community hospital, university-affiliated. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative radioscopy, chest radiographs, and pressure transducer monitoring usually allow for the prompt recognition of the accidental insertion of venous catheters into the arterial system. However, in the presence of a right-sided aortic arch, a central line could be erroneously inserted into the arterial system and the radiologic findings can give the false impression of a correct placement in the superior vena cava.
OBJECTIVE: To describe an unusual case of accidental insertion of a central line into an anomalous right-sided aortic arch. DESIGN: Case report, clinical. SETTINGS: Community hospital, university-affiliated. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative radioscopy, chest radiographs, and pressure transducer monitoring usually allow for the prompt recognition of the accidental insertion of venous catheters into the arterial system. However, in the presence of a right-sided aortic arch, a central line could be erroneously inserted into the arterial system and the radiologic findings can give the false impression of a correct placement in the superior vena cava.