Key result
PTCA balloon-assisted snaring successfully retrieves a dislodged atrial leadless pacemaker from the pulmonary artery.
Case Report (n=1)
A PTCA balloon can facilitate the retrieval of a dislodged leadless pacemaker by angling the device toward a snare loop.
May facilitate retrieval of dislodged atrial leadless pacemakers; leaves open reproducibility and safety in larger cohorts.
OBJECTIVE: We present a case of a dislodged atrial leadless pacemaker (LP) snared from the pulmonary artery with the assistance of a percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) balloon. KEY STEPS: We advanced 2 Judkins right (JR4) catheters through a FlowTriever (Inari Medical) catheter. A PTCA balloon was advanced through the first JR4 catheter and placed distal to the dislodged LP. Gentle traction moved the device proximally; however, it angled away from the Amplatz Goose Neck snare (Medtronic) advanced via the second JR4 catheter. The PTCA balloon was deflated and wedged between the device and the pulmonary vessel wall. Inflating the balloon angled the device toward the snare loop allowing successful snaring and retrieval. POTENTIAL PITFALLS: Potential pitfalls include an inability to advance a coronary wire across the LP, device encapsulation, distal device migration, and pulmonary artery rupture. TAKE-HOME MESSAGES: A PTCA balloon can facilitate dislodged LP retrieval. A multidisciplinary team approach is crucial.
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Zaman et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Dislodged atrial leadless pacemaker (n=1). Percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) balloon-assisted snaring was evaluated on Successful snaring and retrieval. A percutaneous coronary angioplasty balloon successfully facilitated the snaring and retrieval of a dislodged atrial leadless pacemaker from the pulmonary artery.
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