Successful retrieval of a broken circular mapping catheter after entrapment in the tricuspid valve apparatus

Introduction Invasive electrophysiology study and catheter ablation are relatively safe procedures with only rare complications. A circular mapping catheter is commonly used to localize abnormal foci within the atria and thoracic vein. Entrapment of the circular mapping catheter in the mitral valve (MV) apparatus has been reported previously by Wu et al, who noted serious complications following the catheter retrieval procedure. In the present case, the circular catheter was inadvertently mispositioned into the right ventricle, entrapped, and broken in the tricuspid valve (TV) apparatus during the mapping of premature atrial complexes (PACs) from the right atrium (RA) in a patient with frequent episodes of palpitation who underwent a cardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) and eventually catheter ablation. In the present case report, we describe the successful retrieval of the fragment by a percutaneous transfemoral venous approach.