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Published on: February 18, 2020
Management of Guidewire Entrapment and Fracture During Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: When All Bailout
Tushar Sharma1, Brad Pfeffer2, Christopher C Kwon2
1Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
Insights
A fractured guidewire during stenting for myocardial infarction necessitated bypass surgery. This case highlights critical guidewire retrieval techniques to prevent complications and avoid further surgical intervention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a common cardiac emergency.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting is a standard treatment for NSTEMI.
- Complications during PCI, such as guidewire entrapment, can lead to adverse outcomes.
Abstract:
A 55-year-old man presented with chest pain and was diagnosed with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed a 95% eccentric lesion in the mid-right coronary artery. After 3 intracoronary stents were placed, the guidewire became entrapped in 1 of the stents; multiple attempts at retrieval were unsuccessful. Ultimately, the guidewire fractured, and a coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed to remove the guidewire fragments. This report reviews the procedural steps for wire retrieval that are critical for operators to avoid coronary artery bypass surgery.
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