Successful transradial retrieval of broken catheter fragment during transradial coronary angiography.

Intravascular fracture of angiographic catheters is very uncommon, but it happens. Removal of an intravascular foreign body may require surgical intervention or non-surgical retrieval necessitating additional vascular access (mostly via femoral artery). We describe a case in which the diagnostic catheter was broken. We were able to pass two guidewires (0.035-inch guidewire and 0.014-inch standard percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty guidewire) through the fragment. The 0.014-inch guidewire twirled, winding around the 0.035-inch wire, and the catheter fragment was retrieved successfully through the radial sheath.