[Damage to the vessel wall by the Fogarty balloon catheter]

Thromboembolectomy with the Fogarty balloon-catheter is a well-established surgical therapy for the treatment of acute ischemia with generally good results. However, arterial injuries caused by balloon embolectomy occur in up to 6%. The different types of injury are mentioned, the role of myointimal hyperplasia as a result of endothelial denudation is discussed. We conclude that after balloon-catheter thromboembolectomy an early angiographic control should be performed and repeated 3 months postoperatively.