Fracture and pulmonary embolism from a tunneled catheter fragment: case report

We describe a case of a ruptured tip of a tunneled catheter for hemodialysis with subsequent embolization towards the apical segment of the pulmonary artery and pulmonary infarction.The patient presented with dyspnea and stitch-like pain in the side, initially diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia.The catheter fragment was visualized by CT, where its migration towards the apical segment was confirmed.The catheter was then removed and the patient continued dialysis through an AVF (arteriovenous fistula).