Kensaku Mori1, Chika Somagawa2, Shun Kagaya2, Masafumi Sakai2, Satoshi Homma3, Takahito Nakajima4. 1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan. moriken@md.tsukuba.ac.jp. 2. Department of Radiology, University of Tsukuba Hospital, 2-1-1 Amakubo, Tsukuba, 305-8576, Japan. 3. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan. 4. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A catheter fragment with inaccessible ends can be retrieved using the well-known two-step method: making a free end with a pigtail catheter and seizing it with a snare catheter. Here we propose an easier and faster modification, named the "pigtail through snare" technique. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old female patient underwent removal of a central venous catheter fragment migrating to the right atrium. Both ends located in the right atrial appendage and left hepatic vein were inaccessible. Initially, a snare loop was opened in the inferior vena cava and a pigtail catheter was advanced through the snare loop to hook the catheter fragment. The free end was created by pulling the pigtail catheter, dragged automatically into the snare loop, grasped, and retrieved immediately. CONCLUSIONS: By passing the pigtail catheter through the snare loop in advance, the snaring maneuver becomes easy and fast in retrieving the catheter fragment with inaccessible ends.
BACKGROUND: A catheter fragment with inaccessible ends can be retrieved using the well-known two-step method: making a free end with a pigtail catheter and seizing it with a snare catheter. Here we propose an easier and faster modification, named the "pigtail through snare" technique. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old female patient underwent removal of a central venous catheter fragment migrating to the right atrium. Both ends located in the right atrial appendage and left hepatic vein were inaccessible. Initially, a snare loop was opened in the inferior vena cava and a pigtail catheter was advanced through the snare loop to hook the catheter fragment. The free end was created by pulling the pigtail catheter, dragged automatically into the snare loop, grasped, and retrieved immediately. CONCLUSIONS: By passing the pigtail catheter through the snare loop in advance, the snaring maneuver becomes easy and fast in retrieving the catheter fragment with inaccessible ends.
Authors: Dina Rodrigues; António Sá e Melo; António Marinho da Silva; Vítor Carvalheiro; Otero Manuel Journal: Rev Port Cardiol Date: 2007 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 1.374