A new technique to remove a "stuck" totally implantable venous access catheter

Removal of a totally implantable venous access device (port) is usually a simple procedure. however, if a catheter has been in place for a very long period, it may adhere firmly to the vessel wall. We report a new technique to facilitate removal of a stuck catheter. A 16-year-old girl was admitted for removal of her port, which had been inserted for chemotherapy I I years earlier. After her disease was controlled, the catheter could not be pulled out during surgery. To remove the catheter, we inserted a guidewire to straighten the catheter and then applied a "push-in" force to detach the adherence from the central vein. The catheter was then removed successfully. We believe that this is a new and simple method for removing a "stuck" catheter. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.