Work

Minimally Invasive Treatment of Tunneled Central Venous Catheter–Associated Venobronchial Fistula

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Venobronchial fistula (VBF) is a rare complication of central venous access. We describe a 30-year-old woman with VBF associated with a tunneled venous catheter. She presented with a drowning sensation associated with infusions. Extravasation of contrast material on fluoroscopy confirmed the presence of a fistula between the superior vena cava and bronchial tree. After multidisciplinary planning, the patient underwent catheter removal. An interventional pulmonologist placed a bronchial blocker and a cardiac surgeon positioned an endovascular occlusion balloon to mitigate life-threatening risk of intrabronchial hemorrhage. This highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary team to manage risks associated with catheter removal in patients with VBF.

Source: Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.atssr.2022.09.009