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Mechanical complications of central venous catheterization (CVC) include artery puncture, vein injuries, catheter malposition (CM), pneumothorax, hemothorax, air embolism, subcutaneous hematoma and arrhythmia. This report was aimed to present the case developing hemothorax due to multilumen catheter (MLC) malposition following venous perforation which is overlooked during CVC. A 21-year old female patient was planned urgent surgery due to a sharp object injury on the right arm. MLC was inserted to left internal jugular vein (IJV) using the seldinger technique in the second attempt. Despite administration of erythrocyte suspension, fluid and noradrenaline infusion through the MLC, patient’s Hct did not increase, hypotension and tachycardia were continued. Catheter was not used and peripheral venous vascular access was used for replacement and infusions. Postoperatively, opacity covering the left hemithorax was detected on the chest radiograph, marked pleural effusion and pneumothorax on the left side was detected on thorax computed tomography. MLC was removed and tube thoracostomy drainage was administered. Hemorrhagic fluid was drained from thorax. Conservative treatment was deemed appropriate since stable vital signs after chest tube application. The complication rate is low and success rate is high in CVC from IJV. Malposition is rare in CVC application from right IJV than in CVC application from left IJV. There is a sharp curve in CVC from the left IJV, which frequently leads to malposition of the MLC. CM should be suspected with no aspiration of blood through catheter or aspiration of another substance such as air, chylous fluid, etc. and non-pulsatile blood flow. If dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension and desaturation develop after catheter administration we should be alert.

Critical illness polyneuromyopathy (CIPNM) is a primary axonal-degenerative condition that occurs in sensory and motor fibers after the onset of a critical illness. It is thought that it develops due to tissue damage due to hypoxia/ischemia. When 24-year-old female patient was followed in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to diabetic ketoacidosis, she was extubated on the second day. She was reintubated on the third day because of respiratory acidosis. Sedation was withdrawn on the fifth day, however the patient could not recover consciousness until the 14th day and tetraplegia was found during her neurological examination. Motor peripheral nerve-transmission response in the upper-and lower-extremity was evaluated to be of low amplitude in the conducted needle electroneuromyography. The patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation on the 23rd day. The neuromuscular symptoms developing as a result of critical illnesses reflect themselves as an increase in the hospitalization duration in the ICU, a difficulty in separation from the mechanical ventilator and an extension of rehabilitation.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a life threatening complication of severe central nervous system injury. The most common cause of neurogenic pulmonary edema is subarachnoid hemorrhage followed by head trauma and epilepsy. The rare causes are cervical spine trauma, multiplesclerosis, cerebellar hemorrhage and intracranial tumors. Neurogenic pulmonary edema is characterized by an increase in extravascular lung water in patients who have sustained a sudden change in neurologic condition. The exact pathophysiology is unclear but it probably involves an adrenergic response to the central nervous system injury which leads to increased catecholamine, pulmonary hydrostatic pressure and increased lung capillary permeability. The presenting symptoms are nonspecific and often include dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, hypoxemia, pinkfroty secretion, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and crackles. These symptoms start within minutes or hours and resolves 48-72 hours that typically for neurogenic pulmonary edema. Basic principles of treatment, surgical decompression, reduce intracranial pressure, controlled ventilation with suplemental oxygen, positive end expiratory pressure and diuresis. We report a case with neurogenic pulmonary edema that occured after head trauma. (Journal of the Turkish Society Intensive Care 2012; 10: 59-62)

Central venous catheterization is an invasive procedure commonly preferred for hemodynamic monitorization, total parenteral nutrition, cardiac pacemaker implantation, long-term use of vasoactive or irritating agents and hemodialysis. We present a 19-year-old woman with acute renal failure scheduled for hemodialysis catheterization. A catheter guidewire extending from the right internal jugular vein to the right external iliac vein was detected in the chest X-ray, taken two hours following catheterization after occurrence of arrhythmia and hypotension. Catheteter guidewire was extracted noninvasively without any complications. Most common reasons for this complication are stated to be attention deficits, lack of experience, overtired staff, and inadequate supervision of trainees. In this paper, we discussed this complication’s causes and preventive methods. (Journal of the Turkish Society Intensive Care 2011; 9:64-7)