Central venous catheter placement is one of the most common procedures in Emergency Departments (ED) and Intensive Care Units (ICU) across the world. A variety of potential complications can occur in patients undergoing these procedures. Incorrect position of the catheter is quite common.Cannulation of azygous arch, occurs in 0.7-1.2% of all central venous catheter insertion, and is seven times more common when access is approached from the left side. (1,2) Due to the venous drainage of the chest wall region, cannulation especially from left side, can lead to the catheters being placed in the aberrant location in hemiazygous vein or one of its tributaries, such as the pericardial veins, as shown in the Figure. The aberrant cannulation of azygous vein or its tributaries carries a high risk for perforation leading to effusions and mediastinal hematomas. (2)
Amina Khimani, Saherish Surani, Joseph Varon, Salim Surani
