title: Retrieval of broken left-atrial catheter using a rigid bronchoscope.
abstract: Left-atrial pressure monitoring continues to be of value in cardiac surgery of the high-risk patient. Complications are fortunately low and include haemorrhage following catheter removal and retained catheter fragments. A simple and safe technique is presented to retrieve retained catheters using a rigid bronchoscope and avoiding the need for resternotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maw
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvernaba
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Kulatilake
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve; D020680:Bronchoscopes; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006325:Heart Atria; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation