Treatment strategy in the fracture of an implanted central venous catheter.

The breaking of a central venous catheter implanted for chemotherapy is a serious complication. Its removal provides a considerable challenge, especially in immunocompromised and thrombocytopenic patients. We present our experience in the percutaneous transcatheter retrieval of the broken parts of catheters in critically ill onocologic and hematologic patients. Our observation indicates that this transcatheter technique is effective and safe, and may prove to be a good alternative to the surgical retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies. We also cover a short review of the literature in this field.