Treatment of superior vena cava perforation due to central venous catheterization via video assisted thoracoscopic surgery

Abstract

Central venous catheterization is an invasive approach which is routinely used in thoracic surgery operations. Pneumothorax and hemothorax are the most frequently observed complications. Superior vena cava perforation as a complication is rather rare. In this article, we report a 17-year-old male patient admitted to our clinic with findings of Ewing sarcoma of the femur and lung metastasis. In the patient, metastasis was detected in the right upper lobe posterior segment of the lung 2x2 cm in size. The patient was planned for surgery and double lumen endotracheal intubation and right subclavian vein catheterization were performed by the anesthesia team preoperatively. During exploration, it was observed that the placed central catheter was perforating the right subclavian vein and entering into superior vena cava. The catheter was withdrawn and the bleeding in superior vena cava was stopped with Floseal r. No complication developed in the patient in postoperative period and he was discharged without any problems after metastasectomy.