Inferior vena cava thrombosis due to an indwelling hemodialysis catheter.

Various indwelling venous catheters have been used in hemodialysis patients after failure of traditional angioaccess. Thrombosis of the subclavian vein occurs with these cannulae and is usually asymptomatic. Such thromboses rarely cause significant pulmonary embolism. We describe a thrombus in the inferior vena cava due to an indwelling hemodialysis catheter, a site with potential for fatal pulmonary embolism.