Balloon deflation failure: A hazard of “medical” atrial septostomy

Pediatric Therapeutic Cardiac Catheterization

“…Other potential complications include perforation of the heart 49,[67][68][69][70] ; balloon fragment embolization 71 ; laceration of the atrioventricular valves 49 ; systemic, or pulmonary veins; and failure of balloon deflation. [72][73][74][75][76] In the series reported by Venables, 49 four procedures failed and one patient died. Parsons et al 67 reported 6% failures of procedures.…”

Retrieval of a Partially Deflated Balloon: A Novel Approach

“…We additionally burst a Miller-Edwards Balloon Septostomy Catheter (Edwards Life sciences, Irvine, CA). described in the early literature for the balloon atrial septostomy procedure [2][3][4][5][6]. In some cases, successful deflation of the balloon was eventually achieved by use of the stiff end of a wire advanced either through the second lumen of the balloon catheter or through a second end-hole catheter.…”