Dog's migrated vascular access catheter removed by surgery

Abstract

A 4-year-old spayed female Boston terrier was diagnosed with a suspected meningioma involving the optic chiasm and resulting in vision loss. A vascular access port (VAP) was placed in the left medial saphenous vein to facilitate frequent anesthetic episodes for radiation therapy. Five days after placement, the VAP was nonfunctional with the silicone catheter still intact. During VAP removal surgery, it was discovered that the silicone catheter had migrated. Intraoperative focal ultrasound could not identify the migrated catheter within the pelvic limb. Thoracic computed tomography identified the migrated catheter retroflexed onto itself in the cranial vena cava and extending into the right pulmonary artery as it passed through the right side of the heart. The dog underwent a hybrid surgical approach consisting of an endovascular retrieval forceps technique with median sternotomy for intravenous non-radiopaque foreign body removal. Postoperative complications, including regurgitation and left atrial thrombus, were managed. The left atrial thrombus persisted for 10 mo after the hybrid surgery. Key clinical message: A hybrid approach consisting of an endovascular retrieval forceps technique with median sternotomy was effective in removing an intravenous non-radiopaque foreign body in a dog.