RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Something's Missing: Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Fracture
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 805
OP 806
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2013.06.130097
VO 26
IS 6
A1 Elon Glassberg
A1 Gadi Lending
A1 Benyamine Abbou
A1 Ari M. Lipsky
YR 2013
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/26/6/805.abstract
AB We describe a case of peripheral intravenous catheter fracture occurring during a routine training exercise. The supervising instructor immediately placed a venous tourniquet proximal to the insertion site and urgently transported the patient to the hospital. The missing catheter segment was identified within the median cubital vein under ultrasonography and was removed by venous cutdown under local anesthesia. An investigation determined that reinsertion of the needle into the advanced catheter likely caused the fracture and that application of a tourniquet may have prevented embolism of the fractured segment. Our literature review suggested that peripheral intravenous catheter fracture is likely vastly underreported, with only one prior case identified in the English literature. Action was taken following the event to educate all Israeli Defense Force medical providers regarding both proper preventive measures and recognition and treatment of catheter fracture should it occur. This case highlights the importance of health care providers being aware of the possibility of catheter fracture, as well as steps to take to prevent and mitigate its occurrence.