Intravascular foreign bodies: what the radiologist needs to know

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Radiology
• Medical Device Complications

Background:

• Intravascular foreign bodies (IFBs) are increasingly common, often resulting from endovascular procedures.
• These retained devices pose significant risks, including thrombosis and embolism.
• Effective retrieval strategies are essential for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature on intravascular foreign bodies.
• To identify common devices lost during procedures.
• To summarize associated symptoms and retrieval methods.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of recent literature on IFB retrieval.
• Analysis of device types, complications, and removal techniques.
• Focus on percutaneous radiologic approaches.

Main Results:

• Iatrogenic IFBs are a growing concern with increased endovascular interventions.
• Complications include thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and peripheral embolism.
• Percutaneous retrieval is highlighted as a primary and effective method.

Conclusions:

• Prompt removal of IFBs is necessary to mitigate severe complications.
• Percutaneous radiologic techniques offer a minimally invasive and effective solution for IFB retrieval.
• Understanding device-specific retrieval strategies is key for interventionalists.