Johannes Gahlen1, Thomas Koeppel, Ruediger L Prosst. 1. Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany. johannes.gahlen@chir.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Abstract
PURPOSE: To report a rare case of chronic vascular occlusion by an undetected ruptured balloon fragment following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old man suffered from calf claudication 1 year after angioplasty for a short stenosis in the superficial femoral artery. During the femoropopliteal bypass operation, a ruptured angioplasty balloon was retrieved. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of arterial lesions always requires thorough pre and postinterventional check of the applied instrumentation. A damaged catheter must initiate an immediate search for lost intravascular objects.
PURPOSE: To report a rare case of chronic vascular occlusion by an undetected ruptured balloon fragment following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old man suffered from calf claudication 1 year after angioplasty for a short stenosis in the superficial femoral artery. During the femoropopliteal bypass operation, a ruptured angioplasty balloon was retrieved. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment of arterial lesions always requires thorough pre and postinterventional check of the applied instrumentation. A damaged catheter must initiate an immediate search for lost intravascular objects.