Repeatedly catheterising the internal jugular vein percutaneously through the same site, between the heads of the sternomastoid, resulted in soft tissue cleavage planes. The catheter entered the pleural cavity from the superior vena cava, a site remote from the percutaneous entry.
The internal jugular line can be misplaced in spite of respiratory fluctuation, free flow, and reflux with the container lowered below cardiac level. Radiological confirmation is mandatory.
Matched MeSH terms: Catheterization, Central Venous/adverse effects