Central venous catheters are widely used in children, particularly in very-low-birth-weight infants in whom long-term access to the venous system is required. This may be achieved by using peripherally inserted central catheters or tunnelled central venous lines (eg Broviac or Hickman lines). Previous case reports of fractured central catheters in premature neonates have involved peripherally inserted silastic catheters. Fractures and embolisation of Broviac central venous fragments have not been previously reported in preterm neonates. We describe a premature neonate with this rare complication along with the retrieval technique used.