Empyema thoracis due to intrapleural migration of retained vascular catheter.

Abstract

Intravascular retention and embolization of fragment of central venous catheters is a rare but well-documented complication of in-dwelling vascular access devices and ports. We describe the case of a 39-year-old male with fracture of the central venous catheter during removal of subcutaneous vascular access port. Over the next 3 years, the catheter fragment embolized through the pulmonary circulation and subsequently migrated into the left pleural space. He presented with empyema thoracis associated with thoracolumbar vertebral osteomyelitis. He required video-assisted thoracoscopy for retrieval of the catheter fragment, left lung decortication, and subsequent multilevel vertebral corpectomy and spine stabilization procedures.