Surgical treatment of pinch-off syndrome: A hybrid technique combining cone-beam computed tomography-guided targeting and surgical removal of catheter remnant

Abstract

Pinch-off syndrome is a rare complication associated with central venous catheters in which the tip of the catheter breaks off, usually in the cardiac chamber or pulmonary artery. Because the catheter tip can induce embolization, it is essential to remove it in these cases. An interventional technique is usually preferred over surgical removal due to the risk of surgery in pediatric patients. However, we present here the successful removal of a catheter tip from the distal pulmonary artery using a hybrid technique combining cone-beam computed tomography-guided targeting with surgical removal. Keywords: Pinch-off syndrome, Hybrid surgery, Central venous catheter complications