Fracture of tissue dilator in the femoral vein during insertion of temporary dialysis catheter: a stitch in time can save nine

Abstract

A 48-year-old man presented to the surgery casualty with 1-day history of broken foreign body during the insertion of dialysis catheter and a failed surgical retrieval. A Doppler ultrasonography of the right groin and lower limb and a noncontrast CT of abdomen and pelvis were performed. Eventhough no intravascular foreign body could be identified on imaging, a decision to re-explore the wound was taken in view of definitive clinical history. A 9.5 cm-long, broken piece of tissue dilator was found inside the right external iliac vein, which was removed through venotomy of the femoral vein. Postoperative recovery was uneventful.