Embolisation of silicone rubber catheters used for intravenous feeding; a preventable complication.

The advantages of silicone rubber central venous catheters are widely recognised, but embolisation of the whole catheter can occur due to malfunction of the hub which is used to clamp the catheter to the female luer connector. Two cases are described in which silicone rubber catheters were successfully removed from the heart using percutaneous techniques. A modification is suggestion to prevent this complication.