A complication of coronary angiography: fractured and retained intraaortic catheter

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Complications directly related to coronary artery catheter use are infrequent.
• Catheter embolization into the aorta represents a rare but serious adverse event.

Observation:

• A case is presented where a fractured right coronary artery catheter migrated to the ascending aorta.
• The catheter fragment was successfully retrieved through an aortic incision made for saphenous vein graft anastomosis.

Findings:

• The retrieval of the broken catheter was achieved during an emergency coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure.
• This intervention was performed concurrently with bypass surgery, demonstrating a feasible approach.

Implications:

• A broken catheter within the aorta, though a catastrophic event, can be managed safely in the operating room.
• This case highlights successful management strategies for rare catheter-related complications during cardiac surgery.