Fatal hemothorax caused by a subclavian hemodialysis catheter. Thoughts on prevention.

A 19-year-old woman died when a subclavian catheter that had provided vascular access for plasmapheresis penetrated her right atrium, pericardium, and parietal pleural, causing a hemothorax. Precautions are recommended to minimize the risk of this complication in patients in whom subclavian catheters are used as a vascular access route for hemodialysis or plasmapheresis.