Esophageal perforation after catheterization of the subclavian vein.

The insertion of a central venous catheter (CVC) via the subclavian vein is often associated with complications. We report a case in which a patient suffered an esophageal lesion with severe bleeding and a pneumothorax with mediastinal shift induced by the insertion of the dilator of a CVC. The pneumothorax had to be treated immediately by pleural drainage, and the esophageal lesion was successfully corrected by means of an endoclip. The patient survived the complication. However, he died 1 week later from multiple organ failure not associated with the CVC insertion.