[Intrapulmonary misplacement of a central venous catheter reaching a pulmonary vein].

A 31-year old female with left-sided pneumonia was admitted to a district hospital due to progressive dyspnoea. She underwent endotracheal intubation and received a central venous catheter (CVC) via the V. subclavia sinistra. However, chest X-ray showed malposition of the CVC and computed tomography confirmed left-sided serothorax and direct lung puncture of the CVC with its tip in the upper pulmonary vein. The patient was transferred to our hospital. After admission, video-assisted thoracoscopy was performed for removal of the CVC and left-sided pleural decortication. Postoperatively, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit. Adequate antibiotic therapy led to resolution of the pneumonia, and the patient was transferred to the normal ward one week after surgery. The further course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home on day 14.