Case: Lines & tubes radiograph #126931682
Lines & tubes Beginner
Read this radiograph systematically before revealing the answer. What is the main abnormality?
Image: Hellerhoff via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized and converted to WebP
Tip: scroll or pinch to zoom, drag to pan, and try Invert.
Answer: Central venous catheter
What to look for in central venous catheter
- A thin catheter entering via a jugular, subclavian or arm vein and following the expected venous course.
- The tip should lie in the lower superior vena cava or at the cavoatrial junction.
- After insertion, always check for pneumothorax and for a tip in an unexpected vein or artery.
Description by the image author (may be in another language): Bilateral internal jugular catheters: The left internal jugular catheter goes through the left brachiocephalic vein with the tip inside the superior vena cava. The right internal jugular catheter also goes through the superior vena cava (SVC) with its tip within the same vein.
Educational case. The diagnosis comes from the image's documented source; the "what to look for" list describes the condition in general and is not a report of this individual image.
