Surgical removal of entrapped guidewire fragment following direct circumflex artery angioplasty and stenting

Abstract

We present a case of a 64-year-old man with coronary artery disease, who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention of the circumflex artery. As the guidewire was being withdrawn from the target vessel, it became entrapped by the structure of the previously implanted stent. Attempts to retrieve the foreign body were unsuccessful. Changes in electrocardiogram were observed during the procedure, and the level of cardiac biomarkers increased within the next 24-hours. The patient was admitted to the Cardiac Surgery Department. Remnants of the foreign body were removed under visual control using extracorporeal circulation, and coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. Treatment options and outcomes are discussed.

A case report of entrapped angioplasty balloon in circumflex coronary artery

“…After failed attempt of percutaneous removal of entrapped hardware, surgical intervention should be undertaken, especially if foreign body remains in aortic root, ascending aorta or aortic arch, due to significant risk of systemic embolic events, including cerebral vascular embolization [11].…”

Surgical retrieval of entrapped coronary guidewire remnant – 3-year angiographic evaluation

“…The presented letter to the editor contains a long-term follow-up to a case reported previously [3]. The patient is a 67-year-old male patient with unstable angina, who underwent an unsuccessful angioplasty procedure over three years ago, which was followed by surgical removal of a broken guidewire and coronary artery bypass grafting.…”