Unusual Placement of a Central Venous Catheter in the Left Lung: Case Report

Abstract

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are widely used in clinical practice, but their placement can be complicated by anatomical vascular variants. This case highlights a rare instance of the left superior pulmonary vein draining into the left brachiocephalic vein, leading to catheter misplacement. The catheter was inadvertently advanced into the left superior pulmonary vein, as confirmed by computed tomography (CT), explaining the unusual appearance of the catheter in the left lung on chest X-ray and the aspiration of arterialized blood. This case underscores the importance of advanced imaging techniques for identifying anatomical variants and diagnosing complications, ensuring safe and effective patient management.