[Breakage of a Seldinger spring guide wire during percutaneous catheterization of a subclavian vein]

Spring guide wires have been widely used for the central venous catheterization with the popularity of the Seldinger technique. We report here an accidental breakage of a spring guide wire during percutaneous catheterization of a subclavian vein. The venipuncture by a plastic catheter over an introducer needle and the insertion of a spring guide wire through the catheter were easily achieved. However, the insertion of an indwelling catheter over the guide wire was difficult to perform, and the pulling out of the guide wire from the catheter was more difficult, which brought the uncoiling of the spring part of the guide wire from the mandrel. The tip of the guide wire was not cut off, and there were no sequelae in the patient. A plastic catheter over an introducer needle for a subclavian venipuncture is so flexible that it is occasionally bent between the clavicle and the first rib after pulling out of the inside needle. Probably, that is the reason of the difficulties of the insertion of an indwelling catheter and the pulling out of a guide wire. The use of a rigid metal needle for the venipuncture is an alternative way to avoid these troubles.