Transcatheter retrieval of different types of central venous catheter fragment: experience in 13 cases.

In total, 13 patients, from April 1992 to November 2002 at this institution, had embolization caused by central venous catheter fragments including 4 peripherally-inserted central catheters (PICCs), 1 Hickman catheter, 1 Swan-Ganz catheter, and 7 port-A catheters. These dislodged fragments were percutaneously retrieved successfully in 12 patients. As each type of the central venous catheter has its distinct properties, the locations of embolization, detection, and retrieval methods differed.