Key result
A novel balloon-assisted technique successfully retrieved intravascular broken catheter fragments in all 3 patients where standard loop snare retrieval had failed, with no complications.
Why the study?
Does a balloon-based retrieval technique allow successful removal of broken catheter fragments in patients where snare retrieval failed?
Case Report (n=3)
No
Does a balloon-based retrieval technique allow successful removal of broken catheter fragments in patients where snare retrieval failed?
A novel technique using a coronary balloon inflated inside a broken catheter fragment allows successful retrieval when standard snare methods fail.
May offer bailout after failed snare retrieval; leaves open safety and efficacy in larger prospective series.
SUMMARY: We describe a novel technique to retrieve broken catheter fragments from the vascular tree at difficult locations using a balloon. A coronary balloon can be taken over a microwire into the catheter fragment to hold it after inflation of the balloon and then the whole assembly can be gradually taken out. We used this novel technique successfully in three patients where the snare failed to retrieve the broken catheter fragment from vascular tree.
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Gupta et al. (2005) conducted a case report in Intravascular broken catheter fragments (n=3). Balloon-assisted retrieval technique was evaluated on Successful retrieval of broken catheter fragment. A novel balloon-assisted technique successfully retrieved intravascular broken catheter fragments in all 3 patients where standard loop snare retrieval had failed, with no complications.
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