• Victor Tran, Alexander Shiferson, Anil P Hingorani, Enrico Ascher, Natalie Marks, Kapil Gopal, Nirav Patel, and Theresa Jacob.
• Division of Vascular Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11219, USA.
• Ann Vasc Surg. 2009 Sep 1;23(5):688.e11-3.

PurposeThe placement of central catheters is a common procedure. It is also associated with multiple known complications. One of the potential complications that carry high morbidity and morality is arterial puncture and cannulation. Herein, we describe five case reports of a central line that was inadvertently placed in the subclavian artery and successfully removed using a StarClose device (Abbott Laboratories, Redwood CA).Methods/ResultsA retrospective chart review of a prospectively maintained database was performed. We identified five cases of inadvertent subclavian artery cannulation during central venous catheter placement. All catheters were removed successfully either in the operating room under fluoroscopic guidance or at the bedside with closure of the arteriotomy using the StarClose device. No cases required conversion to an open procedure for repair. No postremoval hematomas, bleeding episodes, myocardial infarctions, arrhythmias, or adverse clinical sequelae were identified.DiscussionBased on our limited experience, we feel that this method can be performed safely and expeditiously not only in the operating room but also at the bedside.

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