PMC5478567_01
Circular diagnostic catheter after breaking the shaft. a: After removing the circular diagnostic catheter (CDC) from the patient, the shaft was completely torn from the base of its circular part (black triangle) and at the part close to the steerable sheath holder (black arrow). The magnified figures are shown in the small frames. In both frames, the shaft and the wires in the shaft were twisted and completely torn. b: The circular part of CDC remained in the right pulmonary vein (white circle).
1349-7235-56-1057-g001.jpg
PMC5478567_01_1349-7235-56-1057-g001.jpg
g001
While turning the CDC, the shaft of the CDC broke close to the holder of the steerable sheath (Fig. 1a black arrow). Using the remaining shaft, we tried again to remove the CDC from the PV, but the CDC was completely torn from the base of the circular part in the branch of the right PV (Fig. 1a black triangle and 1b white circle).
Angiography of the left atrium at the end of the procedure.
1349-7235-56-1057-g002.jpg
PMC5478567_01_1349-7235-56-1057-g002.jpg
g002
Final LA angiography demonstrated neither obstruction of the major PVs nor exit of the contrast agent out of the LA, although the circular part of the CDC remained in the small branch of the right PV (Fig. 2).
Chest X-ray at three months of follow-up. The circular part still remained in the pulmonary vein (a: PA, b: RL).
1349-7235-56-1057-g003.jpg
PMC5478567_01_1349-7235-56-1057-g003.jpg
g003
AF recurrence. Another chest X-ray showed that the remaining catheter had not changed position (Fig. 3).