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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Guidewire embolization and right ventricular perforation visualized by cardiac CT
Emil M deGoma1, Neil J Goldberg, Ronald P Karlsberg
1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Emil.deGoma@uphs.upenn.edu
Insights
A retained wire stylus caused a cardiac perforation, diagnosed using cardiac CT. This imaging technique is crucial for identifying device migration and guiding safe surgical extraction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Septic arthritis can lead to complications involving indwelling devices.
- Chest pain is a critical symptom requiring thorough cardiac evaluation.
Observation:
- A 60-year-old physician presented with chest pain, initially non-diagnostic via ECG, chest X-ray, and echocardiogram.
- Cardiac CT revealed a retained wire stylus perforating the right ventricle.
Findings:
- Cardiac CT effectively diagnosed device migration and cardiac perforation.
- The imaging identified associated sequelae such as hemopericardium.
Implications:
- CT imaging is vital for diagnosing cardiac device complications.
- Accurate device visualization facilitates safe and effective surgical extraction procedures.
Abstract:
A 60-year-old physician with a history of septic arthritis presented with chest pain. Initial studies including an electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, and transthoracic echocardiogram were non-diagnostic. Cardiac CT demonstrated perforation of the right ventricle from a retained wire stylus. Our case highlights the clinical utility of CT in diagnosing migration of devices through the cardiac chambers, evaluating for associated sequelae, including hemopericardium and other perforated structures, and defining the complete course of the device, thereby facilitating safe extraction.
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