Coronary balloon-assisted retrieval of a broken coronary guidewire

Abstract

Guidewire fracture is more frequent during angioplasty of chronic total occlusion (CTO) of coronary artery though it is an infrequent complication in routine percutaneous coronary intervention. The percutaneous retrieval techniques such as balloon-assisted technique, wire intertwining method, triple wire technique, use of micro snare, stent to crush the wire, and conservative management are various methods which are used with various degrees of success. The surgical retrieval is almost a bail out option. In this case report, we illustrate a case of successful noncompliant coronary balloon-assisted retrieval of a broken piece of a coronary CTO guidewire.