Minerva chirurgica
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The case of a 59 year-old patient, who sustained a post-traumatic fracture of the silastic catheter of his totally implantable venous access device that migrated in the right pulmonary artery, is reported. The venous device was placed six months earlier for the treatment of metastatic spread of a primary unknown adenocarcinoma. The venous device was placed on the left side in consideration of a recent right supraclavicular node biopsy. ⋯ The accidental fracture of the catheter was attributed to a closed trauma occurred during the transport of a refrigerator on the homolateral shoulder. Treatment involved extraction of the migrated fragment through a percutaneous transfemoral angioradiological procedure. A few days later the chamber was removed and a new totally implantable venous access device was placed on the other side.