Delayed pneumothorax and contralateral hydrothorax induced by a left subclavian central venous catheter: a case report

The placement of central venous catheters (CVCs) has become a ubiquitous practice in intensive care units (ICUs). The use of CVCs is often a necessity for the measurement of hemodynamic variables and the administration of fluids, medications, blood products, and parenteral nutrition in critically ill patients; however, catheterization may occasionally be associated with complications, such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, cardiac tamponade, sepsis, and thrombosis. These complications may be life-threatening, even when the procedure is performed under the most ideal circumstances. Although the incidence of delayed pneumothorax and hydrothorax after central venous catheterization is low, such complications of catheterization can sometimes be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We searched Medline reports from the last 30 years and found very few cases that reported delayed pneumothorax and hydrothorax caused by catheterization. Most of these reported cases observed pneumothorax and/or hydrothorax on the same side as the CVC, and only one case developed hydrothorax as a delayed complication on the opposite side as the catheter. We did not detect the simultaneous occurrence of delayed pneumothorax and contralateral hydrothorax in a single case. Here, we report a case wherein left pneumothorax and right hydrothorax were simultaneously detected as delayed complications induced by a left subclavian CVC. CASE DESCRIPTION