Retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies with goose neck snare

Abstract

Purpose: to evaluate the efficacy and advantages of the snare systems in the retrieval of foreign bodies from vascular system.

Materials and methods: the snare technique has been used for intravascular foreign body retrieval. We performed percutaneous extraction of intravascular foreign bodies using combination multipurpose catheters and a nitinol snare loop. In this report, we evaluated the patients who had performed endovascular device reposition or foreign body retrieval from 1998 to 2001.

Results: foreign body retrieval was performed in 15 patients. The foreign bodies consisted of seven fractured port catheters, one sheath fragment, one embolization coil, four wire fragments, one pace-maker transducer and one dislocated endovascular stent. In no case were surgical procedures required, and no complications were encountered.

Conclusion: the snare technique is a useful and a safe method as an alternative procedure to surgery. This technique is highly effective with low rate complications.