In an attempt to obtain perioperative hemodynamic information on a 4-year-old girl with congenital heart disease, a thermodilution catheter was inserted via the right subclavian vein. However, it failed to float into the pulmonary artery. Attempts to free the catheter were unsuccessful and a ventriculotomy was performed. The catheter was found to be embedded in a crack due to trabeculations in the thickened right ventricle. This case highlights one of the difficulties that may be encountered during catheterization of patients with complex abnormalities of cardiac anatomy.
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