[The "pinch off" syndrome: a complication of implantable catheter systems in the subclavian vein].

We report the case of a 63-year-old male patient who received a subcutaneous Port-a-cath system in the right subclavian vein for administration of chemotherapy. Five weeks after successful use, flushing with NaCl 0.9% caused a painless subcutaneous swelling. Fluoroscopy confirmed a leakage below the right clavicle. The catheter was explanted and replaced by a new catheter via Seldinger technique. Two weeks later another leakage occurred and the catheter was removed definitively. Defective equipment was ruled out by the catheter producing company. The "pinch off" syndrome, a rare phenomenon of catheter compression and consecutive catheter fracture, is described, together with the diagnostic signs, the incidence and preventive measures suggested in the literature.