INSERTION-RELATED COMPLICATIONS

Arrhythmia

The placement of a guidewire or catheter into the heart (16).

Symptoms of arrhythmia include:

• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Fast or slow heart beat

Prevention/Management
To monitor patients for arrhythmias, use telemetry during CVC placement. If an irregular heartbeat develops, the guidewire or catheter may be in the right atrium, not the SVC. Often, simply retracting the guidewire or catheter will resolve the arrhythmia (16).