Abstract
We report the unanticipated intraoperative complication of a guidewire knot during central venous line insertion in the left internal jugular vein (IJV), in a child scheduled for a left pneumonectomy for leiomyosarcoma of the left lung under general anaesthesia. After an uneventful guidewire placement in the left IJV under ultrasound guidance, difficulty was encountered in advancing the central venous catheter over the guidewire. Resistance was felt when initiating the removal of the guidewire. The guidewire knot was identified with intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging. After consultation with the surgical team, the knot in the guidewire was removed by immediate venotomy. Intraoperative lung isolation and tracheal extubation after the surgery were uneventful. This report emphasises the importance of vigilance during central venous catheterisation in paediatric patients whose anatomical variations and smaller vessels exacerbate the risk of such complications. Ultrasound-based preprocedural Rapid Central Venous Assessment, and intra-procedural guidewire-tip navigation may help prevent coiling/knotting. Furthermore, it highlights the need for rapid recognition and surgical readiness to resolve unexpected issues during routine procedures.