Strategies for the management of SVC stent migration into the right atrium.
OBJECTIVE
Stent migration into the right atrium is a potentially fatal complication of stenting in the venous system and is most likely to occur during the treatment of superior vena cava obstruction. Endovascular approaches that can salvage this hazardous situation are described and the keys to successful treatment are highlighted.


METHODS
Four different strategies are reviewed: (1) snaring the stent directly, (2) angioplasty balloon-assisted snaring of the stent, (3) guide wire-assisted snaring of the stent, and (4) superior vena cava-to-inferior vena cava bridging stent.


RESULTS
These techniques have been employed in the successful management of four cases. No short- or long-term complications as a result of these maneuvers have been identified. Additional treatment of the underlying disease was possible at the same time in each case.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that prompt management of right atrial stent migration is essential and can be successfully achieved by a variety of "bale-out" techniques which are within the technical range of most interventional radiologists.
Taylor
J D
JD
Department of Radiology, St. George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK. drjeremytaylor@yahoo.co.uk
Lehmann
E D
ED
Belli
A-M
AM
Nicholson
A A
AA
Kessel
D
D
Robertson
I R
IR
Pollock
J G
JG
Morgan
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging