Endoluminal Dilation Technique to Remove Stuck Port-A-Cath: A Case Report

Port-a-cath is a type of central venous catheter (CVC) designed to allow repeated access to the venous system for parenteral delivery of medications, fluids, and nutritional solutions and for sampling venous blood. After years of use or in case of damage, CVC must be removed and eventually replaced: the recovery of the device should normally be easy, with a small surgical incision of the skin and tissues surrounding the device and pulling the catheter. Sometimes, scar tissue can develop around the device, making it resistant to removal even after application of forceful traction. We report a case of stuck port-a-cath that was extracted by using endoluminal dilatation technique.