Subendocardial abscess as a complication of prolonged central venous access for parenteral nutrition

Patients with chronic gastrointestinal diseases may require long-term parenteral nutrition. The authors describe a case in which a subendocardial abscess developed in the right atrium in association with staphylococcal septicemia. The patient, a 15-year-old boy, had a malpositioned Silastic catheter, the tip of which was in his right atrium. Staphylococcal abscess of the heart has been described previously after cardiac surgery, but the authors believe this is the first reported case related to a central venous catheter.