Paradoxical Catheter Embolism

Paradoxical polyethylene catheter embolism occurred in a 41-year-old woman. The fragment of intravenous catheter traversed a patent foramen ovale, lodged in a branch of a renal artery, and caused a renal infarct. When catheter embolism occurs and appropriate studies rule out the usual sites of embolism on the venous side of the circulation, paradoxical embolism to the arterial side should be suspected.