title: The fracture, dislodgement and retrieval of a probe III balloon-on-a-wire catheter.
abstract: The fracture and dislodgement of an angioplasty device within the coronary arteries is a rare but increasingly noted complication. If the fragment of angioplasty balloon or guidewire is dislodged in a proximal and patent coronary artery, the likelihood of acute embolization which could lead to an acute coronary thrombus and/or myocardial infarction exists. Therefore, the immediate removal of the broken piece of the angioplasty catheter is imperative. A case of unusual fracture and dislodgement of a Probe III Balloon-on-A-Wire catheter and retrieval of the broken piece is reported.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Veterans Affairs, Edward Hines Jr. Hospital, Hines, Illinois 60141, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Loeb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male