Central venous catheterization is associated with a large number of complications, such as pneumothorax, hydrothorax, hemothorax, phlebothrombosis, pericardial tamponade, air embolism, aberrant placement and line sepsis. There are many case reports of the extravasation of various central venous catheter fluids, including the intravenous fluids, total parenteral nutrition and chemotherapeutic ag...

Three cases of hydrothorax secondary to late perforation of the superior vena cava by central venous cannulae are presented. The care of central venous cannulae is discussed.

A patient is described who developed a right pneumothorax and a left hydrothorax following percutaneous subclavian vein cannulation. The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this complication are discussed.