Rescuing an entrapped guidewire using a Tornus catheter

Abstract

Entrapment of a guidewire is a rare event, but it could happen especially in severe calcified stenotic lesion. This complication is life-threatening because it can lead to myocardial ischemia, infarction, or lethal arrhythmia due to intracoronary thrombosis. In the event of failed retrieval and persistent signs of ischemia, patients should be urgently referred to surgery. During percutaneous coronary intervention, the Tornus catheter has been applied to patients with severe coronary artery disease when balloon catheter or microcatheter cannot be crossed across the lesion after successful wire crossing. This is a case of a patient that a Tornus catheter rescued an entrapped guidewire in severe calcified coronary disease.