Surgical retrieval of entrapped coronary angioplasty guidewire from the aorta.

An entrapped or retained coronary angioplasty guidewire is a rare but serious complication of coronary interventions. A failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty attempt on the left anterior descending artery in a 35-year-old man was complicated by entrapment of the guidewire. Under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest, the whole length of the entrapped guidewire was retrieved successfully from the left anterior descending artery and the aorta through an aortotomy following revascularization with left internal mammary artery.