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Published on: December 23, 2014
Considerations in placement of right internal jugular cannulas
1Department of Anesthesiology, University of California at Irvine, Orange, USA.
Insights
This case report details a patient experiencing paroxysmal ventricular bigeminy. The arrhythmia resolved after removing an internal jugular infusion catheter, suggesting catheter-induced cardiac events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Paroxysmal ventricular bigeminy can present with unclear causes.
- Intracardiac catheters are common in critical care settings.
Observation:
- A patient developed ventricular bigeminy with an unrecognized etiology.
- The arrhythmia correlated with the patient's head position.
- A single-lumen infusion catheter showed a ventricular pressure waveform.
Findings:
- Removal of the internal jugular infusion catheter led to the resolution of ventricular ectopy.
- The catheter's presence and position likely induced the arrhythmia.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential iatrogenic cause of ventricular arrhythmias.
- Clinicians should consider catheter-induced mechanical irritation as a cause of unexplained arrhythmias.
- Proper catheter placement and monitoring are crucial in preventing such complications.
Abstract:
This case report describes a patient who had paroxysmal ventricular bigeminy of an unrecognized etiology. After 24 hours of observation, it was noted that the patient's head position correlated with the bigeminy. A single-lumen infusion catheter, which had been placed through an internal jugular cannula, was transduced and demonstrated a ventricular pressure waveform. This catheter was removed and the ectopy resolved. The factors associated with this arrhythmia are discussed.
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