Central venous catheter migration to the popliteal artery during total cavopulmonary shunt.

Central venous catheter migration to the arterial system occurred due to the surgical procedure during total cavopulmonary shunt. The catheter seems to have crept into the portion of the vena cava that had been designated for clamping, because of the position for the surgery and the anatomic characteristics of the patient. The catheter migrated in the right popliteal artery and was removed immediately; however, it could enter the pulmonary arterial system and the other systemic arterial branches.