Iatrogenic Axillary Artery Branch Injury Following Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Line Insertion Managed With Coil Embolization: A Case Report

TL;DR

A 71-year-old woman developed a rare artery injury after a PICC line insertion, successfully treated with coil embolization.

Contribution

Demonstrates successful management of PICC-related vascular injury using coil embolization in a complex patient case.

Findings

A right subpectoral hematoma with active arterial bleeding occurred after PICC insertion.

Minimally invasive coil embolization effectively managed the injury.

Early recognition and interventional radiology techniques prevented severe complications.

Abstract

Iatrogenic vascular injuries during peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placements are uncommon but can lead to significant complications, such as pseudoaneurysms and hematomas. We present the case of a 71-year-old woman with multiple comorbidities who developed a right subpectoral hematoma with active arterial bleeding following PICC line insertion. This injury was successfully managed using minimally invasive coil embolization by the interventional radiology team. This case underscores the importance of early recognition and management of such injuries, highlighting the efficacy of interventional radiology techniques as life-saving interventions.

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