Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 18, 2025
Handheld Metal Detector Screening for Metallic Foreign Body Ingestion in Children
Published on: September 11, 2018
The Removal of Intravascular Foreign Bodies by Intervention in Pediatrics
Isabel C Sánchez-Escobar1, Miguel Á Restrepo-Arboleda2, María Isabel Palacio3
1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, CardioVID Clinic, Medellin, Colombia.
Insights
Retrieving intravascular foreign bodies in children using endovascular methods is highly effective and safe. This minimally invasive approach offers a preferable alternative to surgery with low complication rates, even in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Interventional Radiology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Intravascular catheters are widely used in pediatric diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Complications like catheter fracture and migration can lead to serious events such as perforation and arrhythmias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize pediatric patients undergoing catheterization for intravascular foreign body retrieval.
- To evaluate the clinical and hemodynamic aspects of these procedures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients (<18 years).
- Inclusion of all patients undergoing endovascular extraction of foreign bodies.
- Data collected from a cardiovascular reference center.
Main Results:
- High success rate for endovascular retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies.
- Chemotherapy catheters were most frequently retrieved, often from the right atrium or brachiocephalic vein.
- Low incidence of secondary complications (2 patients).
Conclusions:
- Endovascular retrieval is a highly effective and safe procedure in pediatrics.
- Complications are low, even in neonates and low-birth-weight infants.
- Minimally invasive endovascular techniques are preferred over surgical extraction.
Introduction:
The use of intravascular catheters has become increasingly widespread in children, due to their use in diagnostic procedures (such as coronary, intracardiac, cerebral, and renal angiography, as well as pressure monitoring) and for therapeutic purposes (including angioplasties, valvuloplasties, congenital defect closure, chemotherapy, among other uses). However, they are not free from complications, which may include catheter fracture and migration within the cardiovascular system, potentially leading to vascular or cavity perforation, arrhythmias, and even death.
Objective:
To define the clinical and hemodynamic characteristics of pediatric patients undergoing catheterization for the retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective cohort study of all patients under 18 years of age who underwent endovascular extraction of foreign bodies at a cardiovascular reference center.
Results:
A high percentage of successful retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies was noted, with the most frequently retrieved catheter being the chemotherapy catheter, primarily located in the right atrium, between the pulmonary trunk and the right ventricle, and in the brachiocephalic vein. Few secondary complications were observed, occurring in only 2 patients.
Conclusion:
Endovascular retrieval of foreign bodies is a highly effective procedure, and complications are relatively low in pediatrics, even during the neonatal period and in low-birth-weight cases, making it a preferable alternative to surgical extraction.Clinical ImpactBy documenting favorable outcomes across a diverse group, it encourages clinicians to adopt catheter-based approaches more confidently. The use of tools like snare loops and balloon-tipped guidewires in this population reflects procedural innovation and adaptability. Early, minimally invasive intervention may reduce morbidity and hospital stay. These findings can influence clinical decision-making and protocol development in pediatric cardiovascular care, particularly in centers equipped for interventional procedures.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:26Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:25Urinary Tract Calculi VI: Surgical Management
01:14Prevention of Further Absorption of Poison
01:30Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation V: Advanced Airway Management Techniques