Retained left atrial catheter: a case report and review of the literature.

We describe a patient in whom transesophageal echocardiography detected a portion of retained left atrial catheter that had been left in situ for 21 years after aortic valve replacement. Although thrombus was present on the catheter, the patient had no history of systemic embolization, potentially as a result of the use of chronic anticoagulation with warfarin. A review of the literature identified 8 previous cases of a retained left atrial catheter. Retained left atrial catheters can be easily detected with transesophageal echocardiography and appear to have a significant risk of thrombus formation and systemic embolization that warrants removal of the catheter when identified.