[Removal of catheter fragments from the heart and central venous vascular sections].

The floating catheter technique is much more frequently used than before. So far, relatively rare complications become of practical importance. A report is given on three cases in which catheter fragments were cut off and floated into the right heart or pulmonary artery. In one case, the fragment was removed from the right heart after percutaneous insertion of a specially devised instrument similar to a myocardial bioptome. The question does not seem to be settled as yet, whether or not surgical interventions are indicated, when a fragment cannot be removed by these techniques.