[Removal of a non-radiopaque catheter fragment under echocardiographic imaging. A case report]

Central vein cannulation is used as routine for long-time treatment in paediatric intensive care units. The Sylastic catheter is now a days the most common used because of its non-thrombogenic effect. However, in the case here reported, fragmentation during its removal occurred in a eleven month baby. Non surgical removal was done by percutaneous technique using the grasping forceps from Cook Co. into a Lehman 7F catheter. The problem of being no radiopaque, was solved by using the echocardiography study as the guideline for the successful removal of the catheter.