Accidental Passage of a Polyethylene Catheter from Cubital Vein to Right Atrium

Abstract

REPORTS of foreign bodies in the myocardium or cardiac chambers are numerous, war missiles being the most common. Such objects have led to cerebral emboli from adjacent cardiac thrombi, subacute bacterial endocarditis and myocardial aneurysms.¹ Foreign bodies, especially needles, have passed along veins through the vena cava and into the right side of the heart, with resultant cardiac damage of varying degrees.² Cardiac catheterization can cause cardiac arrhythmias, mural thrombus formation and contusions of the myocardium.³ Hemorrhage of the myocardium, thrombosis of the coronary sinus, pericarditis and myocardial fibrosis have also been reported.⁴ McMichael and Mounsey⁵ described 5 cases of . . .