Presentation
Line placement
Patient Data
Age: 60 years
Gender: Male
From the case:
Central line in the aorta
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Central line tip projects over the expected location of the aorta. Endotracheal and nasogastric tubes appropriately positioned. No pneumothorax. Bilateral consolidation, right worse than left.
Case Discussion
A central tip to the left of the midline could be in 1) a left superior vena cava, 2) the left internal thoracic vein, 3) the left internal thoracic artery, 4) the left superior intercostal vein, 5) the hemiazygous vein, or 6) the aorta. All of these possibilities except for the aorta tend to be more laterally positioned than shown in this case, making aortic placement most likely. The catheter was removed (not shown) without complication.
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