[Mediastinal infusion by a multilumen central venous catheter]

A case of mediastinal perfusion by a left internal jugular vein catheter is reported. The catheter was of Shaldon type with six lateral side-holes. The patient displayed progressive pulmonary oedema and peripheral vasoconstriction, whereas clinically the catheter seemed to work quite well. Only radiological control with injection of radiopaque dye demonstrated mediastinal penetration of the catheter tip including the most distal side-hole. The five more proximally located holes remained in intravascular position. The authors advocate radiographic catheter control with radiopaque dye in every catheterized patient demonstrating cardiorespiratory manifestations of unknown origin.