Retropharyngeal haematoma with subtotal upper airway obstruction after puncture attempt: a case report.

Mechanical complications during central catheterisation occur in approximately 15% of cases. This report describes a potentially fatal yet avoidable complication and highlights the typical radiological features of a retropharyngeal haematoma.A patient with acute myeloid leukaemia was admitted to the intensive care unit with respiratory distress immediately after an attempt to insert a subclavian catheter without ultrasound guidance.