Family notices there is something unusual about the appearance of their child’s central line (see photo below). The line is functioning fine. There is no leaking. The patient is asymptomatic. What is the problem?
A. Outer lumen fracture
B. Inner lumen fracture
C. Central line thrombus
D. Central line malposition
E. Cuff exposed
The correct answer is a. Outer lumen fracture. The central line is composed of two lumens, outer and inner lumens. In this photo, the outer lumen has been fractured and pulled away in a portion and the inner lumen is exposed. You cannot diagnosis a central line thrombus or malposition by the appearance at this angle. A central line cuff is composed of Dacron and is wider than the central line, not smaller.