Surgical removal of entrapped and broken percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon catheter.

OBJECTIVES The percutaneous coronary artery angioplasty is routinely being used worldwide for the management of short and discrete coronary artery stenosis. The purpose of this report is to address the potentially lethal complication among the variety of surgical problems in conjunction with this procedure. The case also illustrates the potential pitfalls in the management of CAD. METHODS A 60-year-old man had a broken and retained percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) balloon catheter entrapped in the left anterior descending artery and portion of it was lying in the ascending aorta. The patient underwent retrieval of this catheter through the standard coronary arteriotomy for coronary anastomosis without aortotomy on cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS It was found that the PTCA balloon catheter was entrapped in the entire LAD and portion of it was lying in the ascending aorta, which could be delivered through the standard coronary arteriotomy for coronary anastomosis, thus avoiding the aortotomy. CONCLUSIONS PTCA balloon catheter entrapped in the entire LAD and portion of it lying in ascending aorta could be delivered through the standard coronary arteriotomy for coronary anastomosis, thus avoiding the aortotomy.