Pigtail straightener left in ascending aorta

Abstract

A case of retained Intra-Vascular Foreign Body (IVFB) after successful Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Treatment (TEVAR) for an isthmic penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer is reported. Thoracic pain on post-operative day one required angioscanner (CTA) investigations and showed a longilineal image from aortic valve to brachio-cephalic origin, confirmed by Trans-oesophageal Echo-Endoscopy (TEE). Endovascular re-intervention was performed with an Endovascular Snare. The object corresponded to the peel away straightener of the pigtail catheter used on the first intervention as angiography catheter. Patient was discharged on post-operative day 7 without complications.