Guidewire embolization and right ventricular perforation visualized by cardiac CT.
A 60-year-old physician with a history of septic arthritis presented with chest pain. Initial studies including an electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, and transthoracic echocardiogram were non-diagnostic. Cardiac CT demonstrated perforation of the right ventricle from a retained wire stylus. Our case highlights the clinical utility of CT in diagnosing migration of devices through the cardiac chambers, evaluating for associated sequelae, including hemopericardium and other perforated structures, and defining the complete course of the device, thereby facilitating safe extraction.
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Emil.deGoma@uphs.upenn.edu
Emil M
EM
deGoma
Neil J
NJ
Goldberg
Ronald P
RP
Karlsberg
D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*