Intravenous fracture of a peripheral cannula in children: a case report

Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) placement is a commonly performed procedure in clinical practice, particularly in pediatric patients who require intravenous fluids or medications.Fracture of a cannula within a vein is a rare but potentially serious complication.When a cannula fragment migrates within the venous system, it may mimic a thrombus at a critical location and can lead to embolic complications.We present the case of a pediatric patient with a fractured PIVC fragment lodged in the median cubital vein, which was successfully removed using a 2-Fr Fogarty catheter.In this case, a 24-gauge PIVC inserted into the antecubital fossa malfunctioned after several days, and ultrasonography identified a retained catheter fragment within the vein.Surgical exploration with venotomy was performed, and because the fragment was not palpable, a Fogarty catheter was employed for retrieval.The vein was subsequently ligated, and the patient recovered without complications.This case highlights the importance of early detection, appropriate imaging, and careful site selection to reduce the risk of PIVC fracture in pediatric patients.