title: Percutaneous retrieval of intravascular venous foreign bodies in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of vascular lines both venous and arterial in children has significantly increased in the last decade with the potential risk that an intravascular device may become an intravascular foreign body. Percutaneous retrieval by interventional radiology has become an accepted method of foreign body removal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to describe a single center's experience of percutaneous intravascular foreign body removal in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2000 and December 2008, 18 patients underwent percutaneous intravascular foreign body retrieval as a complication of venous access devices. The mean catheter days were 181.2 catheter days (1 to 1,146 days). A retrospective review was performed and demographic data and clinical information were recorded, including type, duration, location of access device, embolization location and retrieval technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen of 19 (94.7%) retrievals were performed with single-loop snares and 1/19 (5.3%) was a triple-loop snare. Seventeen of 19 (89.5%) retrievals were successful. One unsuccessful retrieval was successfully removed by surgery, while the other was retained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous intravascular foreign body retrieval by interventional radiologists is a safe and effective method of retrieving embolized fragments from venous access devices in pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th Street and Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. cahill@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: Deddeh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ballah
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fontalvo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020878:Device Removal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult