title: Percutaneous retrieval of a fractured guide catheter using contralateral snaring.
abstract: Guide catheter kinking and fracture is an uncommon complication of percutaneous coronary intervention and may require emergency surgical intervention if percutaneous retrieval fails. We present a case of guide catheter kinking and fracture during attempts to engage the left main coronary artery in a patient with marked iliac tortuosity. The retained guide catheter fragment was retrieved percutaneously by using a snare from the contralateral femoral artery and removing the "folded-over" catheter fragment through the contralateral arteriotomy.
authors.affiliation: Dallas VA Medical Center (111A), 4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, TX 75216, USA.
authors.forename: Tesfaldet T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Emmanouil S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Brilakis
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D057785:Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome