Introduction: the use of central venous catheterization (CVC) is a common practice in intensive care, emergencies and anesthesiology and is not free of complications. Among these is the malposition of the catheter. The purpose of describing a case where CVC malposition was diagnosed as an immediate complication after its insertion. Case presentation: a case is presented in which catheterization was performed in a 76-year-old female patient, via the left posterior jugular route, identifying in the control radiography the bad position of the catheter, which took an anomalous route towards the left subclavian vein. The catheter was immediately withdrawn and the procedure was performed again through the contralateral subclavian vein and its correct position was subsequently verified. Conclusions: CVC malposition is a frequent complication associated with CVC insertion. In the present case it was immediately diagnosed by control radiography and the anomalous CVC was removed and correctly replaced in a second attempt without further complications