Catheter fragment removal from a persistent left superior vena cava in a pediatric patient

Tunneled central venous catheters and ports provide a long-term method of delivering nutrition, hydration, or medications in children. When these devices are no longer needed, it is best practice to remove them entirely. Complications associated with having long-term venous access devices or the process of device removal include site infections, venous thrombosis or occlusion, device fracture, and possible migration of fractured fragments. We present a case of catheter fragmentation that occurred in a pediatric patient during removal of a 3-year-old left chest port that had been placed into a left superior vena cava (SVC).