Acute airway obstruction following placement of a subclavian Hickman catheter

• Published in: Canadian journal of anesthesia Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 241 - 243
• Main Authors: O'HARA, J. F, BRAND, M. I, BOUTROS, A. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Toronto, ON Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society 01.03.1994
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Airway Obstruction - etiology; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects; Catheterization, Central Venous - instrumentation; Catheters, Indwelling - adverse effects; Constriction, Pathologic - pathology; Emergency and intensive care: techniques, logistics; Female; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Perfusions. Catheterizations. Hyperbaric oxygenotherapy; Subclavian Vein; Superior Vena Cava Syndrome - etiology; Vena Cava, Superior - pathology; Case study; Human; Respiratory tract; Respiratory disease; Catheter; Subclaviar vein; Complication; Obstruction
• ISSN: 0832-610X; 1496-8975
• DOI: 10.1007/BF03009838

The purpose of this case report is to describe the events, intervention, and aetiology which led to acute airway obstruction in an adult patient after the placement of a Hickman catheter. Airway obstruction secondary to superior vena cava obstruction occurred after placement of a subclavian vein Hickman catheter. This was felt to occur, in part, to a narrowed superior vena cava as evident by subclavian venography. It resulted in emergency oral tracheal intubation to relieve airway obstruction. Shortly after removal of the Hickman catheter, the signs of superior vena cava obstruction syndrome resolved and the patient was extubated without incidence. It is concluded that, although rare, the serious complication of acute airway obstruction can occur after placement of a Hickman catheter.