Rare complications of micropuncture vascular access in the ICU

Micropuncture vascular access is increasingly being used in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to its perceived reduction of bleeding complications in common ICU procedures. The authors report two rare complications associated with micropuncture kit use associated with vascular access. The first case involved a fracture of the micropuncture wire with a remnant retained in the blood vessel. The second case involved the formation of a knot within the flexible tip of the micropuncture wire in the subcutaneous tissue. The unique design of the flexible tipped 0.018-inch guide wire may be prone to unique complications for which an understanding of the proper technique for its use is necessary to prevent these complications.