Inadvertent subclavian artery catheter placement complicated by stroke: endovascular management and review

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology
• Endovascular Interventions

Background:

• Large-bore venous catheters can be misplaced in the subclavian artery, posing a risk of severe bleeding.
• The noncompressible nature of the subclavian artery entry site exacerbates hemorrhage risk.
• Patient comorbidities often preclude traditional surgical intervention for such complications.

Observation:

• A case of central venous catheter misplacement into the subclavian artery is presented.
• This complication was further complicated by a thromboembolic stroke.
• The patient was treated with a combination of percutaneous closure and temporary balloon tamponade.

Findings:

• Endovascular management is demonstrated as a viable treatment strategy.
• Percutaneous closure effectively managed the arterial injury.
• Temporary balloon tamponade provided hemostasis during the procedure.

Implications:

• Endovascular treatment is a reasonable alternative for subclavian artery catheterization.
• This less-invasive approach benefits patients requiring central venous access due to underlying conditions.
• Minimally invasive techniques can improve outcomes in complex vascular access complications.