J Korean Soc Neonatol.  2006 May;13(1):171-175.

A Case of Unilateral Pleural Effusion Due to Percutaneously Inserted Central Venous Catheterization

• Nam HY
• Lee CA
• Lee KH

Abstract

Percutaneously inserted central venous catheterization (PICC) is commonly used for the management of preterm infants and surgical newborn babies to provide intravenous access for prolonged therapy and parenteral nutrition. Insertion of PICC in neonate has been associated with both immediate and late complications. The immediate complications include catheter malposition, pneumothorax and hemothorax usually secondary to the insertion procedure. Late complications are sepsis, thrombosis, catheter tip migration, vessel perforation, cardiac tamponade, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion and chemical pneumonitis. It is recognized that catheter tip migration can occur at any time with potentially fatal outcome. We report here a newborn infant that successful PICC placement was followed a few days later by the development of a unilateral pleural effusion due to migration of the cathter tip, with a brief review of the literatures.

Keyword

Percutaneously inserted central venous catheter; Pleural effusion

MeSH Terms

Cardiac Tamponade
Catheterization, Central Venous*
Catheters
Central Venous Catheters*
Fatal Outcome
Hemothorax
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Parenteral Nutrition
Pericardial Effusion
Pleural Effusion*
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Sepsis
Thrombosis