The stuck central venous catheter: beware of potential hazards.

Many complications of attempted central venous access have been described, most related to insertion. Larger and stiffer catheters are being used more often for dialysis or massive transfusion. This case report details how one catheter was damaged during the insertion of a second catheter. The problem was discovered when the catheter could not be removed, and was subsequently removed after dissection. The reason for the difficult removal and the likely consequences of excessive force are illustrated.