All issues > Volume 49(8); 2006

Case Report

Korean J Pediatr. 2006;49(8):902-905. Published online August 15, 2006.

Perforation of azygos vein and right-sided hydrothorax caused by peripherally inserted central catheter in extremely low birth weight infant

Kee Soo KS Ha¹, Jung Yeon JY Shin¹, Mi Jung MJ Hwang², Young Ok YO Choi², Dong Han DH Shin¹, Gi Young GY Jang¹, Byung Min BM Choi¹, Kee Hwan KH Yoo¹, Young Sook YS Hong¹, Chang Sung CS Son¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Nursing, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Byung Min BM Choi ,Email: cbmin@korea.ac.kr

Abstract

We report a case in which routine chest roentgenograms of an 840 g infant led to the belief that the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was appropriately positioned within the superior vena cava when, in actuality, it was within the azygous arch. Although many cases of pleural effusions have been reported to be caused by a central venous catheter, a right-sided hydrothorax caused by azygous vein rupture from the use of a PICC is an extremely rare complication. Sudden changes in the condition of a preterm infant with PICC should raise the suspicion of a catheter- related problem.

Keywords :Hydrothorax , Azygos vein , Central venous catheterization , Low-birth-weight infant