Intertwining and knotting of a guidewire with a central venous catheter.

A guidewire, inserted into a 65-year-old patient with multisystem organ failure through the left subclavian vein, intertwined and knotted with an existing central venous catheter previously inserted via the right subclavian vein. Both the guidewire and catheter were removed without any harm to the patient.

Baffle obstruction following the Mustard operation: cause and treatment.

Baffle obstruction developed in 11 patients after they had undergone the Mustard procedure. Eight of them required operative revision. The cause of the baffle obstruction seemed to be related to patient age (less than 1 year) and to the use of Dacron for the baffle but not to the shape of the baffle.