Successful device retrieval using simple balloon method during cardiac procedures

Although rare, incidents of broken/dislodged fragment of various angioplasty hardwares, including catheters, guidewires, angioplasty balloons, and stents, are being increasingly reported in recent years. Since these broken fragments may cause life-threatening consequences for a patient, it is vital for an interventional cardiologist to be acquainted with different retrieval techniques. Here, we are reporting our observations of several incidents of device dislodgement/fracture during cardiac interventions and their retrieval using simple balloon method.

We present a study of eight patients in whom we attempted to retrieve dislodged/fractured cath-lab hardwares during cardiac interventions, using simple balloon method. These cases include two cases of balloon, three cases of stent, and three cases of guidewire dislodgement/fracture.

Fractured/dislodged cath-lab hardwares were successfully retrieved using a simple balloon method in six out of eight cases (75%), without any need of other retrieval hardwares. We observed no major complications in any patient.

The balloon-assisted retrieval method is a simple, safe, and cost-effective way to avoid complications of endothelial injury, myocardial infarction, emergency coronary artery bypass graft, and sudden cardiac death. This study, particularly the context of retrieval technique used in each case, will offer valuable information to fellow interventional cardiologists.