Case: Lines & tubes radiograph #115325717
Lines & tubes Beginner
Read this radiograph systematically before revealing the answer. What is the main abnormality?
Image: Hellerhoff via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized and converted to WebP
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Answer: Central venous catheter
What to look for in central venous catheter
- A thin catheter entering via a jugular, subclavian or arm vein and following the expected venous course.
- The tip should lie in the lower superior vena cava or at the cavoatrial junction.
- After insertion, always check for pneumothorax and for a tip in an unexpected vein or artery.
Description by the image author (may be in another language): Fehllage ZVK in Arterie mit abweichendem Verlauf über die Mittellinie nach links. Differenzialdiagnostisch wäre an eine Lage in der V. azygos zu denken, dafür aber Abweichung nach links schon sehr weit oben. Eine Fehllage in der V. brachiocephalica sinistra zeigt meist einen engeren Winkel nach links oben.
Educational case. The diagnosis comes from the image's documented source; the "what to look for" list describes the condition in general and is not a report of this individual image.
