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Indwelling pericardial drainage catheter break secondary to heart movement and catheter angulation
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque. losborn@medusa.unm.edu
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Diagnosis
|September 1, 1997
Insights
A pericardial drainage catheter broke during removal, necessitating surgery. Analysis revealed no defects, suggesting heart movement and insertion angle caused the catheter to sever.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Device Engineering
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Pericardial drainage catheters are used to remove fluid from the pericardial space.
- Catheter retrieval can occasionally be complicated by device failure.
- Understanding failure mechanisms is crucial for patient safety.
Observation:
- A case is presented where a pericardial drainage catheter fractured upon attempted removal.
- Surgical intervention was required to retrieve the retained catheter fragment.
- The removed catheter fragment was analyzed for potential defects.
Findings:
- No manufacturing defects were identified in the retrieved catheter portion.
- Suspected causes for the catheter disruption include shear forces from cardiac motion.
- The angle of catheter entry into the pericardial space is also implicated.
Implications:
- This case highlights potential risks associated with pericardial drainage catheter removal.
- Understanding mechanical forces is crucial for preventing future catheter failures.
- Further research into catheter design and insertion techniques may be warranted.
Abstract:
We report on a case of a pericardial drainage catheter that severed on attempted removal. Surgery was required to remove the retained portion. No manufacturing defects were found on analysis of the catheter. Shear forces due to heart movement and the angle of catheter entry into the pericardium were the suspected reasons for the catheter disruption.