Extravasation. A serious complication of the split-sheath introducer technique for venous access

B. T. Gemlo, A. A. Rayner, R. J. Swanson, J. A. Young, J. F. Homann and D. C. Hohn
Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco 94143.

The use of split-sheath introducers to place venous access catheters results in the potential for subcutaneous extravasation and tissue injury or necrosis. We present six cases that demonstrate this complication and illustrate the probable mechanism. The safe use of these catheters requires verification that blood can be aspirated from the catheter and a high index of suspicion for extravasation when symptoms develop.