Successful retrieval of a fractured and embolised Judkin's catheter during a coronary angiogram

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Medical Device Retrieval

Background:

• A 69-year-old female patient presented with an anterior wall myocardial infarction.
• Coronary angiography indicated severe stenosis in the left main coronary artery, left anterior descending artery, and left circumflex artery.

Observation:

• During a cardiac procedure, a Judkin's right catheter fractured approximately 15 cm from its distal end.
• The broken catheter segment was located in the ascending aorta, with the proximal end in the left subclavian artery.

Findings:

• An initial attempt to retrieve the distal catheter segment using a snare catheter via the right common iliac artery was unsuccessful due to the fragment's curvature.
• A retrograde approach utilizing a snare catheter through an arterial sheath in the left femoral artery successfully removed the fractured catheter segment.

Implications:

• This case highlights the successful application of a retrograde snare catheter technique for retrieving a complex, large fractured catheter segment from the aorta.
• The described method offers a viable alternative for managing similar intra-arterial foreign body complications during interventional procedures.