Broken guidewire during subclavian venous catheterization

The use of cuffed tunneled hemodialysis catheters has become commonplace these days, but such use may be associated with certain known risks and complications. We report a catheterization of a right subclavian central vein that became complicated by a break in and entrapment of the guidewire used for the procedure. The proximal portion of the broken guidewire remained in the inferior vena cava and the distal portion in the right atrium. An angled wire loop retriever was used to remove the guidewire through the right femoral vein.