Hemiplegia caused by inadvertent subclavian artery double-lumen catheterization

Abstract

Arterial puncture during central venous catheterization (CVC) is a relatively rare complication that may have devastating consequences. We present a case of left sided hemiplegia after inadvertent, unidentified right subclavian artery double-lumen catheterization in a 60 years aged male who had to undergo central venous catheterization for hemodialysis. The patient had had hemodialysis from the same intra arterial route thrice. Twenty days later, he was successfully managed in OR by removal of the catheter from his artery and manual compression for 20 minutes to control the bleeding.