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Nephrol Dial Transplant (1999) 14: 1850-1852
© 1999 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association

Dialysis and Transplantation News

Lethal air embolism following removal of a double lumen jugular vein catheter

Walther H. Boer and Ronald J. Hené

Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr Walther H. Boer, Department of Nephrology, University Hospital (room F 03.226), P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Introduction

The use of central venous catheters introduced into the jugular or subclavian vein is common clinical practice for parenteral nutrition, administration of anti-tumour drugs, plasmapheresis or haemodialysis. Complications are usually associated with the introduction procedure itself (e.g. local haematoma, pneumothorax or haematothorax) or with the period that the catheter is being used (exit site infection, bacteraemia, sepsis). We report the uncommon, in our case lethal complication of air embolism which occurred following removal of a jugular vein catheter used for plasmapheresis and discuss preventive measures.

Case

A 36-year-old man was diagnosed as having Refsum's disease by the department of Neurology several years ago. This recessive familial disease is caused by a deficiency of phytanic acid hydroxylase and is associated with accumulation of phytanic acid in plasma and tissues. The clinical consequences are peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa. . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Discussion

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